What do you think?
Rate this book
Nanchan #1
Nanchan Vol. 1
From acclaimed author Tang Jiuqing comes Nanchan, a spellbinding supernatural mystery that weaves Chinese mythology and Buddhist lore into a tale of redemption and revelation.
A disgraced immortal thought long dead. A shape-shifting fish with a mind of its own. A cryptic copper bell that seems to lead them on a wild goose chase—or is it something more?
After committing patricide against the Supreme Father, Jinglin is annihilated for his betrayal, but instead of fading into oblivion, he awakens—weak and diminished—in a secluded courtyard. His only companions: a mysterious bell, a silent stone figure, and a talking fish that soon transforms into a child whom he names Cangji.
When the bell is lost during an attack on their quiet abode, Jinglin and Cangji set off to retrieve it. The trail it leaves behind winds through a series of puzzling, harrowing cases—each one embodying a different form of human suffering. As the mysteries deepen, so do the questions: What is the bell’s true purpose? Why has it chosen this path? And what awaits them at the end of the journey?
Follow Jinglin and Cangji as they unravel a tapestry of memories, desires, and intrigue in a quest for the truth that may be better never uncovered…
A disgraced immortal thought long dead. A shape-shifting fish with a mind of its own. A cryptic copper bell that seems to lead them on a wild goose chase—or is it something more?
After committing patricide against the Supreme Father, Jinglin is annihilated for his betrayal, but instead of fading into oblivion, he awakens—weak and diminished—in a secluded courtyard. His only companions: a mysterious bell, a silent stone figure, and a talking fish that soon transforms into a child whom he names Cangji.
When the bell is lost during an attack on their quiet abode, Jinglin and Cangji set off to retrieve it. The trail it leaves behind winds through a series of puzzling, harrowing cases—each one embodying a different form of human suffering. As the mysteries deepen, so do the questions: What is the bell’s true purpose? Why has it chosen this path? And what awaits them at the end of the journey?
Follow Jinglin and Cangji as they unravel a tapestry of memories, desires, and intrigue in a quest for the truth that may be better never uncovered…
447 pages, Hardcover
Published July 30, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 4, 2026
This danmei managed to do something that many other books fail at: it profoundly changed my perception of it, so much so that I was genuinely surprised by my own shift in feelings.
Let me start by sharing my initial impression: I enjoyed it at first, but not to the same degree as others seem to love it. Everywhere I looked, there was praise for this danmei, and I couldn't quite understand why. The story is undeniably intriguing, with gut-wrenching cases, and the couple exudes chemistry, longing, and pain. However, the writing style, or perhaps the translation, made it difficult for me to fully appreciate all these qualities. The main couple appears less frequently than the supporting characters, which I saw as a significant drawback, since I couldn't form strong attachments to anyone besides the protagonists.
Whether it’s the style of writing or the translation, I felt a distance, as if a door was separating me from the story. No matter how much I banged on that door, it wouldn't budge. Then unexpectedly, that barrier finally opened.
That moment of revelation led to my surprise: the second half of the story deeply engrossed me, fostering an attachment to the side characters and increasing my appreciation for the main protagonist, Jinglin. The latter part is where the narrative truly finds its stride, revealing the intricate layers that had been concealed from the start. It's in these chapters that the emotions and the beauty crafted by the author become truly apparent. Though the story begins slowly, I promise it's worth the frustration and even some annoyance, as it helps you understand why so many love and cherish this work.
The author’s depiction of the cases is remarkable. The vivid, realistic portrayal of humanity’s most disgusting and monstrous sides makes these cases even more impactful, as they remind us that these crimes are not just fictional but ongoing realities in the world. The story explores the eight sufferings of mortal life, and I warn you—you will endure all of them.
Initially, I found it difficult to like Jinglin because he seemed devoid of emotion at first. Yet, by the end of this volume, I didn’t need the full backstory to feel the immense pain and injustice he endured, nor to understand that his actions were justified. I only wish he had been more thorough in eliminating them all.
Then there’s Cangji, who, for reasons I don't quite understand, is disliked by many fans at the start, but I genuinely loved him. He embodies qualities that make it easy for me to adore him as a character: arrogance, rudeness, moral ambiguity, and the aura of someone with a lot of power and not shy to let others know it. Being inside his head was by far my favorite part of reading this. He’s hilariously funny, yet innocent enough to still have much to learn and grow.
Their relationship is a bittersweet blend, evident from hints dropped early on that their shared past ended painfully. Their interactions are tinged with pain, especially since neither remembers their former connection, due to various reasons. Yet, despite the lost memories, the heart recognizes what the mind has forgotten. The author excels at tugging on your heartstrings during their sweet and playful moments, making their relationship a tapestry of hardship but also hope, suggesting that all the struggles will ultimately be worthwhile.
In conclusion, I now understand why so many praise and love it. I eagerly look forward to reading volume 2.
Let me start by sharing my initial impression: I enjoyed it at first, but not to the same degree as others seem to love it. Everywhere I looked, there was praise for this danmei, and I couldn't quite understand why. The story is undeniably intriguing, with gut-wrenching cases, and the couple exudes chemistry, longing, and pain. However, the writing style, or perhaps the translation, made it difficult for me to fully appreciate all these qualities. The main couple appears less frequently than the supporting characters, which I saw as a significant drawback, since I couldn't form strong attachments to anyone besides the protagonists.
Whether it’s the style of writing or the translation, I felt a distance, as if a door was separating me from the story. No matter how much I banged on that door, it wouldn't budge. Then unexpectedly, that barrier finally opened.
That moment of revelation led to my surprise: the second half of the story deeply engrossed me, fostering an attachment to the side characters and increasing my appreciation for the main protagonist, Jinglin. The latter part is where the narrative truly finds its stride, revealing the intricate layers that had been concealed from the start. It's in these chapters that the emotions and the beauty crafted by the author become truly apparent. Though the story begins slowly, I promise it's worth the frustration and even some annoyance, as it helps you understand why so many love and cherish this work.
The author’s depiction of the cases is remarkable. The vivid, realistic portrayal of humanity’s most disgusting and monstrous sides makes these cases even more impactful, as they remind us that these crimes are not just fictional but ongoing realities in the world. The story explores the eight sufferings of mortal life, and I warn you—you will endure all of them.
Initially, I found it difficult to like Jinglin because he seemed devoid of emotion at first. Yet, by the end of this volume, I didn’t need the full backstory to feel the immense pain and injustice he endured, nor to understand that his actions were justified. I only wish he had been more thorough in eliminating them all.
Then there’s Cangji, who, for reasons I don't quite understand, is disliked by many fans at the start, but I genuinely loved him. He embodies qualities that make it easy for me to adore him as a character: arrogance, rudeness, moral ambiguity, and the aura of someone with a lot of power and not shy to let others know it. Being inside his head was by far my favorite part of reading this. He’s hilariously funny, yet innocent enough to still have much to learn and grow.
Their relationship is a bittersweet blend, evident from hints dropped early on that their shared past ended painfully. Their interactions are tinged with pain, especially since neither remembers their former connection, due to various reasons. Yet, despite the lost memories, the heart recognizes what the mind has forgotten. The author excels at tugging on your heartstrings during their sweet and playful moments, making their relationship a tapestry of hardship but also hope, suggesting that all the struggles will ultimately be worthwhile.
In conclusion, I now understand why so many praise and love it. I eagerly look forward to reading volume 2.
August 28, 2025
Trust leads to devotion and sometimes that leads to something more. In the first volume of “Nanchan” by Tang Jiu Qing the protagonist, Jinglin, is an immortal who has been asleep for centuries. “His emotions and worldly desires had been wholly cut off centuries ago, and he had neither loved nor had any desire to learn how to love another entity since” (p.22). Jinglin, also called Lord Linsong, is emotionally completely shut down and has been isolated for reasons that are left unexplained. This first volume opens with an extreme case of “in medias res,” which means that the plot begins in the middle and allows the backstory to filter through along the way. Jinglin is at the very beginning of a journey that will see him develop a relationship with Cangji, who begins as a lowly carp.
The structure of this series is non-linear in the extreme and it reads like a long, meandering hallucinatory experience. It is set in a world of immortals, humans and demons who can live for centuries and so the normal rules of reality do not apply. The best approach is therefore to go with the flow and simply allow the details of Jinglin and Cangji´s adventures to flow by in a reverie. Although it may be possible to analyze precisely which immortals are fighting whom for whatever reason, it would ruin the reading experience. The language of “Nanchan” is mesmerizingly beautiful, which is surely a credit to the translator of this exquisite Rosmei edition, XiA.
After a brief scene of a battle where Jinglin was defeated on the battlefield, the book begins with Jinglin waking up after a long slumber. His only companion is a gold and red carp who is bored inside its porcelain bowl and thus plays with falling snowflakes in a beautiful opening scene. The carp is sentient and is slowly taking in his surroundings and has already developed an attachment to Jinglin who is aloof and asleep most of the time. They are joined by a small stone figure who seems to be an extension of Jinglin but whose silly antics provide comic relief.
After some adventures where Jinglin rescues the carp from being eaten by a serpent, the carp acquires the ability to turn into a small boy and eventually turns into an adult man who is devoted to Jinglin. However, Canji, as the carp is called, has an insatiable appetite and he can only satisfy it by taking small bites of Jinglin, because his spiritual power allows him to grow. Jinglin is weak and so Cangji´s snacking on him is not ideal for the recovery of his health. Even so Jinglin seems unbothered by both his fragile health and Cangji´s very healthy appetite. This creates a delicate balance where Jinglin protects Cangji, but later on Cangji grows into a man who devotedly carries Jinglin around because his health is poor. They both trust each other implicitly despite the odd situation and power imbalance; Jinglin is a powerful, immortal being who has been weakened by the past and Cangji is a carp who has developed into sentience because he has taken small bites out of Jinglin but is devotedly protecting him.
After some upheaval at their home, they head out into the world together with Stoney, the small stone figure. They are looking for a bell that had been hanging in the eaves of their house, but which has now disappeared. This bell is the driving force behind the plot. It has the ability to show them what has happened in the past and at the very end, it even allows them to experience a scene that unfolded between two lovers. The scene is ambiguous in that it is unclear who is expressing love to whom since the lovers in the story had a full and frank relationship while both Jinglin and Cangji are novices in that department. They physically re-live the scene twice at the end of the book but try to pretend it was not their experience. However, at the very end Cangji rushes back to Jinglin and kisses him lightly on the ear, saying “This is from me” (p. 446).
In essence, “Nanchan,” is a sensory experience more than it is a book. The plot is full of a myriad of details that threaten to overwhelm the forward movement of the plot so let it flow past your mind as a brook flows through a beautiful forest. Jinglin and Cangji exist in this magical universe and slowly come to realize that they may feel more for each other than mere devotion…
The structure of this series is non-linear in the extreme and it reads like a long, meandering hallucinatory experience. It is set in a world of immortals, humans and demons who can live for centuries and so the normal rules of reality do not apply. The best approach is therefore to go with the flow and simply allow the details of Jinglin and Cangji´s adventures to flow by in a reverie. Although it may be possible to analyze precisely which immortals are fighting whom for whatever reason, it would ruin the reading experience. The language of “Nanchan” is mesmerizingly beautiful, which is surely a credit to the translator of this exquisite Rosmei edition, XiA.
After a brief scene of a battle where Jinglin was defeated on the battlefield, the book begins with Jinglin waking up after a long slumber. His only companion is a gold and red carp who is bored inside its porcelain bowl and thus plays with falling snowflakes in a beautiful opening scene. The carp is sentient and is slowly taking in his surroundings and has already developed an attachment to Jinglin who is aloof and asleep most of the time. They are joined by a small stone figure who seems to be an extension of Jinglin but whose silly antics provide comic relief.
After some adventures where Jinglin rescues the carp from being eaten by a serpent, the carp acquires the ability to turn into a small boy and eventually turns into an adult man who is devoted to Jinglin. However, Canji, as the carp is called, has an insatiable appetite and he can only satisfy it by taking small bites of Jinglin, because his spiritual power allows him to grow. Jinglin is weak and so Cangji´s snacking on him is not ideal for the recovery of his health. Even so Jinglin seems unbothered by both his fragile health and Cangji´s very healthy appetite. This creates a delicate balance where Jinglin protects Cangji, but later on Cangji grows into a man who devotedly carries Jinglin around because his health is poor. They both trust each other implicitly despite the odd situation and power imbalance; Jinglin is a powerful, immortal being who has been weakened by the past and Cangji is a carp who has developed into sentience because he has taken small bites out of Jinglin but is devotedly protecting him.
After some upheaval at their home, they head out into the world together with Stoney, the small stone figure. They are looking for a bell that had been hanging in the eaves of their house, but which has now disappeared. This bell is the driving force behind the plot. It has the ability to show them what has happened in the past and at the very end, it even allows them to experience a scene that unfolded between two lovers. The scene is ambiguous in that it is unclear who is expressing love to whom since the lovers in the story had a full and frank relationship while both Jinglin and Cangji are novices in that department. They physically re-live the scene twice at the end of the book but try to pretend it was not their experience. However, at the very end Cangji rushes back to Jinglin and kisses him lightly on the ear, saying “This is from me” (p. 446).
In essence, “Nanchan,” is a sensory experience more than it is a book. The plot is full of a myriad of details that threaten to overwhelm the forward movement of the plot so let it flow past your mind as a brook flows through a beautiful forest. Jinglin and Cangji exist in this magical universe and slowly come to realize that they may feel more for each other than mere devotion…
July 31, 2026
4,5 'devouring' stars
I have no idea how to write a review for this book. I seriously have a feeling I'm not smart enough to do it justice. For more than half of this volume I was like 'I know this is so amazing but I still have zero idea what's happening'. The plot is layered on so many levels, it feels like playing 5D chess. I kept telling myself, that eventually everything will make sense... well, it did - eventually - but I almost lost hope till then *nervous laugh* The story drops you in the middle of the insane action ⬆️ which I didn't mind that much because we stan unhinged characters in this house! And I was, of course, very glad to learn that Jinglin is one of the MC - to clarify he's the "to kill" guy. Predictably he pisses of the whole Heaven with this deed and everyone wants to permanently kill him but apparently this doesn't go well because in the next chapter he's alive (barely), hiding in seclusion with a pet carp for company. And then there's also a bell. Sorry, the bell, that's extremly important for the plot and for Jinglin. And, of course, the bell gets stolen, and Jinglin wants it back. However, I have less than zero idea why Jinglin needs it, actually no one knows that, and I'm getting more and more suspicious that neither does Jinglin truly.
I don't recommend this book for xianxia beginners. Even with some knowledge about this genre, I was still confused most of the time. You at least need to know something about Heaven hierarchy, various mythological creatures, what are yāo and how they differentiate from humans (I rec Fangs of Fortune big time for more yāo lore), how tribulations work, and some Buddhism concepts, such as eight sufferings. As I already said, the novel is written in many layers, and in true Tang Jiu Qing's fashion, there's a lot of characters that are all connected to each other. At first I really didn't understand why are there so many side plots that don't seem to be important for the main plot, only to later realize that side plots actually are the main plot. The bell takes Jinglin and Cangji on a journey to experience the eight sufferings for themselves. It's very sad and devastating journey, so prepare to suffer alongside these tragic characters.
I won't try to explain the plot further, so let's just get to our main couple. I already introduced Jinglin a little bit. He starts the novel as one of the immortal lords, who is banished from Heaven for the unpardonable crime he commited. I think he's not supposed to be alive but somehow he survived, however, everyone still believes that he's dead. Well, he's not far from it. Mostly he just sleeps, maybe trying to regain his powers, or just waiting to die. I'm not exactly sure about his motives but what's important is that I always get attached to these poor little moews moews that are incapable of taking care for themselves. Also, he very much reminds me of Tang Lici. (I just finished Whispers of Fate and I'm totally biased. Additionally, just like Tang Lici, Jinglin equally seems to be the strongest being in the universe and at the same time literally on the brink of death like all the damn time. Or maybe I just like to imagine characters that Luo Yunxi plays 😇) Anyway, looking forward to learn more about him and his mysterious past.
Gif by shadowhuli
I liked Cangji from the very beginning but it took me for about half this volume that he truly became my precious baby (that's what you get for not treating my first precious baby well enough!). He was actually the reason I hesitated to pick up this novel because I was like 'What's with all these fish in danmei?? I don't need another one' but now I'm very glad I gave Nanchan a chance. Afterall, he's not a carp for long, and even when he still is in that form, he definitely gets an award for the most unhinged carp ever.
Isn't he a darlin'? I mean, who wouldn't want this little, feral creature, that craves to eat you up, as a pet? And he stays this charming even when he cultivates into a human. He wants to devour Jinglin when he's this little, silly human toddler, and he still wants to devour him when he "grows up". It's so funny how he imprints on Jinglin like an adorable baby duck and refuses to leave him, acting all pitifull and cute.
Since he's a yāo, he only cares about advancing his cultivation. He kind of reminds me of Li Lun from FoF because they are both more like repulsed rather than curious about human nature, and would much prefer to stay away from human emotions in general. Yes, he often acts like an asshole because of that but let's say he gets a pass for now. Since he skipped quite a lot of years of cultivation, courtesy of Jinglin's nourishment, his emotional inteligence is literally that of a baby. I can't wait for him to fall in love and discover how devastating this can be. I'm also very curious about his origins because a lot of characters recognize him as a possible dragon. This is not exactly a spoiler because we learn about this pretty early on and more than half of art depicts Cangji as a dragon anyway. I have some theories that maybe he was reincernated as a carp as some kind of tribulation or maybe a punishment but I could be completely wrong
Gif by mutantfactor
Before I connected the dots about what's happening in this novel, it was their interesting dynamic that kept me going. Their relationship is all kinds of messed up. On one side, we have barely funcional yāo in human form, who imprinted on the first being strong enough to feed him spiritual powers, and his love language is basically "I'm gonna devour you, it's the most efficient way for us to stay together", and on the other side, we have a fallen immortal, who possibly wants to die but apparently gets off on being eaten?? My dear Jinglin, just you wait for Cangji to discover sexual desires, he will eat you out for sure 😏
Cangji, you're the biggest lying liar who lies. 'Not taking another bite', while biting is basically half of your relationship. Well, I'm sure there's some more philosophical explanation to this specific brand of relationship, not just biting kink but I'm uncertain if I know their characters well enough. Jinglin is surely a very complex person. It will be interesting to disover why he's so lenient with Cangji. Does he see him as a reason to live? I have a feeling he's been in a half-dead state for centuries, and with Cangji on his side, everything certainly turned out a lot more exciting. Or maybe he seems more alive only because he's hopefull that Cangji will finally end his miserable life. And why not go out with a bang?
Seriously, whatever it is they have going on between them, it's making me go feral. I love unhinged4unhinged pairings. And I'm very much looking forward for them to truly start experiencing feelings for each other.
They really were made for each other. Don't get me even started about them jokingly (or not??) calling each other father and son, lol. Jinglin don't get corrupting Cangji so early on, he doesn't even know basic human emotions and interactions - he will get totally wrong impression about the world!
Getting back to the plot, I have so many questions I want answers for. The biggest of them is, who exactly is Cangji? I don't believe that he's a brand new yāo, and I have some theories. There are a lot of side characters and I'm sure we're gonna meet many more. I'm too lazy to talk about everyone, so I'll just mention Dongjun because I like him the most. He's a demon (my speculation is mó because he's referred to as evil spirit) turned deity lord because I guess Heaven is understaffed and Dongjun is powerfull enough to do his job but maybe not having enough power to defy them. Or maybe he just doesn't care. Love me some bad guys that are forced to do good, haha. And he reminds me of Zhu Yan so there's that.
Gifs by c4tr0nac7
I'm running out of space, so I'll be quick. I know Cangji is very new to everything, including sexual desire, so it's to be expected he's plenty confused about what he feels. But Jinglin, who's apathetic toward anything, including submitting himself to being bitten and giving his blood, gets easily flustered if Cangji's just a little bit suggestive, and despite allowing to be hugged, carried around by Cangji, and sitting in his lap, he's very defensive when the bell puts them into more intimate situation. I wonder what happened in his past? Did something wrong happened with a specific person? Was it Cangji himself? Or is Jinglin just aversive to sexual desire in general? I hate to see my precious baby suffering. I hope Cangji will help him discover pleasure again.
4,5 'devouring' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
want to read
want to read
“What do you see?”
“A mountain of corpses amidst a sea of blood.”
“Why have you come?”
“To kill.”
I have no idea how to write a review for this book. I seriously have a feeling I'm not smart enough to do it justice. For more than half of this volume I was like 'I know this is so amazing but I still have zero idea what's happening'. The plot is layered on so many levels, it feels like playing 5D chess. I kept telling myself, that eventually everything will make sense... well, it did - eventually - but I almost lost hope till then *nervous laugh* The story drops you in the middle of the insane action ⬆️ which I didn't mind that much because we stan unhinged characters in this house! And I was, of course, very glad to learn that Jinglin is one of the MC - to clarify he's the "to kill" guy. Predictably he pisses of the whole Heaven with this deed and everyone wants to permanently kill him but apparently this doesn't go well because in the next chapter he's alive (barely), hiding in seclusion with a pet carp for company. And then there's also a bell. Sorry, the bell, that's extremly important for the plot and for Jinglin. And, of course, the bell gets stolen, and Jinglin wants it back. However, I have less than zero idea why Jinglin needs it, actually no one knows that, and I'm getting more and more suspicious that neither does Jinglin truly.
“If you want to be human, you must understand the hardships of being one, for there are eight sufferings in life: birth, old age, illness, death, separations from your loved ones, encounters with hated ones, unfulfillment of desires, and the inability to let go. [...] It can be seen that these eight hardships are distinguishable from one another, and yet they are not. If you ask me, I’d advise you not to become human but remain a yāo forever.”
I don't recommend this book for xianxia beginners. Even with some knowledge about this genre, I was still confused most of the time. You at least need to know something about Heaven hierarchy, various mythological creatures, what are yāo and how they differentiate from humans (I rec Fangs of Fortune big time for more yāo lore), how tribulations work, and some Buddhism concepts, such as eight sufferings. As I already said, the novel is written in many layers, and in true Tang Jiu Qing's fashion, there's a lot of characters that are all connected to each other. At first I really didn't understand why are there so many side plots that don't seem to be important for the main plot, only to later realize that side plots actually are the main plot. The bell takes Jinglin and Cangji on a journey to experience the eight sufferings for themselves. It's very sad and devastating journey, so prepare to suffer alongside these tragic characters.
I won't try to explain the plot further, so let's just get to our main couple. I already introduced Jinglin a little bit. He starts the novel as one of the immortal lords, who is banished from Heaven for the unpardonable crime he commited. I think he's not supposed to be alive but somehow he survived, however, everyone still believes that he's dead. Well, he's not far from it. Mostly he just sleeps, maybe trying to regain his powers, or just waiting to die. I'm not exactly sure about his motives but what's important is that I always get attached to these poor little moews moews that are incapable of taking care for themselves. Also, he very much reminds me of Tang Lici. (I just finished Whispers of Fate and I'm totally biased. Additionally, just like Tang Lici, Jinglin equally seems to be the strongest being in the universe and at the same time literally on the brink of death like all the damn time. Or maybe I just like to imagine characters that Luo Yunxi plays 😇) Anyway, looking forward to learn more about him and his mysterious past.
Gif by shadowhuli
I liked Cangji from the very beginning but it took me for about half this volume that he truly became my precious baby (that's what you get for not treating my first precious baby well enough!). He was actually the reason I hesitated to pick up this novel because I was like 'What's with all these fish in danmei?? I don't need another one' but now I'm very glad I gave Nanchan a chance. Afterall, he's not a carp for long, and even when he still is in that form, he definitely gets an award for the most unhinged carp ever.
[...] it still wanted to remain by Jinglin's side.
Because it wanted to devour Jinglin.
[...]
As long as it could devour Jinglin, it could skip over a century of painstaking cultivation it could otherwise go through. Since it had already developed a consciousness, it was no longer satisfied with remaining in the water. Its desires grew continually as its spiritual energy increased.
It wanted to leave its vessel, to lean over and gnaw apart Jinglin's exquisite neck one of these nights.
Possess him. Dominate him.
Isn't he a darlin'? I mean, who wouldn't want this little, feral creature, that craves to eat you up, as a pet? And he stays this charming even when he cultivates into a human. He wants to devour Jinglin when he's this little, silly human toddler, and he still wants to devour him when he "grows up". It's so funny how he imprints on Jinglin like an adorable baby duck and refuses to leave him, acting all pitifull and cute.
“I want to be with you!” The brocade carp choked on his sobs and said emphatically, “You were the one I saw when I opened my eyes. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”
“You know who I am.” Jinglin replied. “And you still dare to say that?”
[...]
“Can’t I just stay with you?” The brocade carp asked.
Looking at how naïve the brocade carp was, Jinglin endured his fatigue and repeated the words he had said that morning in a slightly mocking tone. “You know who I am, and you still dare to say that?”
“Then, who am I?” The brocade carp looked up. “I don’t even have a name.”
Jinglin looked like he was asleep. After a while, he said, “Let’s just call you Cangji.”
Since he's a yāo, he only cares about advancing his cultivation. He kind of reminds me of Li Lun from FoF because they are both more like repulsed rather than curious about human nature, and would much prefer to stay away from human emotions in general. Yes, he often acts like an asshole because of that but let's say he gets a pass for now. Since he skipped quite a lot of years of cultivation, courtesy of Jinglin's nourishment, his emotional inteligence is literally that of a baby. I can't wait for him to fall in love and discover how devastating this can be. I'm also very curious about his origins because a lot of characters recognize him as a possible dragon. This is not exactly a spoiler because we learn about this pretty early on and more than half of art depicts Cangji as a dragon anyway. I have some theories that maybe he was reincernated as a carp as some kind of tribulation or maybe a punishment but I could be completely wrong
Both of them had yet to notice the two bumps that had silently formed on the scaly forehead of the brocade carp – Cangji’s original form – sleeping in a curled up position in his spiritual sea.
Gif by mutantfactor
Before I connected the dots about what's happening in this novel, it was their interesting dynamic that kept me going. Their relationship is all kinds of messed up. On one side, we have barely funcional yāo in human form, who imprinted on the first being strong enough to feed him spiritual powers, and his love language is basically "I'm gonna devour you, it's the most efficient way for us to stay together", and on the other side, we have a fallen immortal, who possibly wants to die but apparently gets off on being eaten?? My dear Jinglin, just you wait for Cangji to discover sexual desires, he will eat you out for sure 😏
As expected, the corner of Jinglin's lips curved slightly into a wry smile. "You've sure grown a lot while I was asleep."
Cangji picked him up." That's right. You have nothing to worry about now. I'll be good to you, just like you've been to me."
"There's no need for that." Jinglin allowed Cangji to carry him. "It was a gift."
Fuli picked up on the signs. "What did you give him, Jiu-ge? Since you're still in recovery, you could leave the fish in my care if you want."
Eyes half-lidded, Jinglin gave an indolent reply. "I'm afraid you can't afford to feed him."
[...]
With Jinglin snug in his arms, Cangji nimbly evaded her. "This is a misunderstanding! It was an urgent situation, and I had not other choice!" [...] He leaned down to take in the smell of Jinglin's hair. "Besides, I respect and adore Jinglin. I yearn to cradle him gently in my arms every day and pamper him. I wouldn't even think about taking another bite."
Cangji, you're the biggest lying liar who lies. 'Not taking another bite', while biting is basically half of your relationship. Well, I'm sure there's some more philosophical explanation to this specific brand of relationship, not just biting kink but I'm uncertain if I know their characters well enough. Jinglin is surely a very complex person. It will be interesting to disover why he's so lenient with Cangji. Does he see him as a reason to live? I have a feeling he's been in a half-dead state for centuries, and with Cangji on his side, everything certainly turned out a lot more exciting. Or maybe he seems more alive only because he's hopefull that Cangji will finally end his miserable life. And why not go out with a bang?
After being stared at for quite a while, Jinglin asked cooly. "Don't recognize me anymore?"
Cangji got straight to the point. "You know I'm going to eat you. Why did you take the blow for me?"
Jinglin gazed at him for a moment. "I felt like it."
"You sound thoughtless, but your actions are the opposite." Cangji stood up and continued cynically. "You can treat me this way all you want, but I won't spare you. Jinglin, I've put all my attention on you. I know you wish to die, but it's for me to decide when."
"As it happens," Jinglin fastened his collar and put on his coat, "the one thing I hate most od having to submit to the plans of destiny. This suits me just fine. From now onward, my life and death are in your hands."
Seriously, whatever it is they have going on between them, it's making me go feral. I love unhinged4unhinged pairings. And I'm very much looking forward for them to truly start experiencing feelings for each other.
Jinglin pulled a cold smile. "Isn't it delightful?"
Seeing this expression, Cangji had the subconscious urge to lick him. He broke into a grin, trembling with excitement. Every time Jinglin did this, he seemed to have shed his mask, leaving behind a savage beast like Cangji himself. They were cold-hearted spirits who had cast aside all conventions.
"What do you mean 'delightful'?" Pressing his tongue against his teeth, Cangji said. "It'd only be delightful if you became someone no one would believe, remember, or miss. Only then would you truly belong to me when I devour you." He slid his finger across Jinglin's cheek and lowered his voice seductively. "Why do you need anyone else? I'm the only one in this world who's devoted to you. Day and night, all I think about is eating you. Brothers or parents can't be trusted, whereas I'm far more reliable."
"Have you ever wondered..." Jinglin turned his head, cheek brushing against Cangji's fingertips, yet his eyes remained aloof. "...who will ultimately end up devoured - you or me?"
"Doesn't really matter if it's me." A spirit's cunning flashed across Cangji's eyes. "As long as I end up with you."
They really were made for each other. Don't get me even started about them jokingly (or not??) calling each other father and son, lol. Jinglin don't get corrupting Cangji so early on, he doesn't even know basic human emotions and interactions - he will get totally wrong impression about the world!
"You don't understand." The cup rolled in Jinglin's fingers, and he pushed it away in a fit of pique. He threw the fan at Cangji and murmered, "You don't understand."
Cangji sat up straight and picked up the fan, then gently hooked Jinglin's fingers into his own and drew closer. He teased gently with smiling eyes. "That's right. I don't understand. Why don't you explain it to me, Jinglin dear? Tell me."
[...]
"Are you on good terms [with your brothers]?" Cangji whispered.
"With some, yes. With others, no," Jinglin answered honestly.
"Who are you on good terms with? Lirong?"
"Lirong, yes." Jinglin nodded.
"How about Cangji?" the carp teased.
After some hesitation, Jinglin shook his head hard. "Nope. He's always biting me."
Cangji laughed. "Then what should we do? He will definitely bite you again in the future."
"Then," Jinglin answered in all seriousness, "bite me gently."
Cangji held Jinglin's hand and leaned back against the railing, eyes still on him. "Don't you want to kill or abandon him?"
When Jinglin shook his head, Cangji pinched his cheek while their fingers were still laced. The carp's gaze was complicated, and his words teasing.
"But you look so tantalising, so how can you expect me to stop now?"
Getting back to the plot, I have so many questions I want answers for. The biggest of them is, who exactly is Cangji? I don't believe that he's a brand new yāo, and I have some theories. There are a lot of side characters and I'm sure we're gonna meet many more. I'm too lazy to talk about everyone, so I'll just mention Dongjun because I like him the most. He's a demon (my speculation is mó because he's referred to as evil spirit) turned deity lord because I guess Heaven is understaffed and Dongjun is powerfull enough to do his job but maybe not having enough power to defy them. Or maybe he just doesn't care. Love me some bad guys that are forced to do good, haha. And he reminds me of Zhu Yan so there's that.
Gifs by c4tr0nac7
All he did was to stand nonchalantly for Cangji to have a taste of how intimidating a “deity lord” should be. [...] Dongjun’s original form was as savage as his physical face was beautiful. His wrathful appearance was like a malignant deity, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it stood silently in his spiritual sea.
Cangji’s heartbeat stalled as his spiritual energy spun around crazily. His true form retreated out of his own accord in fear. Before he could let out a curse, he felt a sharp pain in his ears and plunged into deep water. He had only sunk less than a moment when he someone clung to his back. Lips pressed against his own, and the taste of blood gushed into Cangji’s mouth. With wisps of his hair blocking his face, Cangji held down the back of Jinglin’s head and forcefully swiped away the bit of blood. He took the lead over from Jinglin, keeping it going.
Jinglin’s hands and feet were icy as he reached out to grab Cangji’s hair, but Cangji was oblivious to it. He had been intimidated to the core by Dongjun, and now, darker thoughts kept gushing out.
Devour him.
Devour him now!
I'm running out of space, so I'll be quick. I know Cangji is very new to everything, including sexual desire, so it's to be expected he's plenty confused about what he feels. But Jinglin, who's apathetic toward anything, including submitting himself to being bitten and giving his blood, gets easily flustered if Cangji's just a little bit suggestive, and despite allowing to be hugged, carried around by Cangji, and sitting in his lap, he's very defensive when the bell puts them into more intimate situation. I wonder what happened in his past? Did something wrong happened with a specific person? Was it Cangji himself? Or is Jinglin just aversive to sexual desire in general? I hate to see my precious baby suffering. I hope Cangji will help him discover pleasure again.
Starting from the neck, Cangji would caress every inch of Jinglin's warm, percelain-white skin down to his waist while burrying his nose against the man's nape, where he would be poised to bite into the vulnerable and most delectable piece of flesh, therby finding a home for his desire.
Desire.
Cangji recited the word silently. It was as if he did not recognize it. Yet it also felt as if he was well acquainted with it.
A laugh escaped his throat as he repeated in a low voice.
“This is the desire you’ve taught me.”
As if he had learned something, Cangji lay back on the bed and laughed on and on. He turned over to look at Jinglin again, feeling as if the young man was caged in light. It was as if Jinglin was both within and out of his reach. Even though Jinglin’s expression and gaze were frosty, Cangji still somehow felt that his heart was soft and tender.
4,5 'devouring' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
want to read
want to read
February 28, 2026
“what do you see?”
“blood and carnage.”
“why have you come?”
“to kill.”
insane and iconic first line of this book.(6 may, 25)
edit:
i regret not writing down my thoughts earlier, but after “rejoice, wei wuxian is dead,” this has to be the most iconic opening.
“blood and carnage.”
“why have you come?”
“to kill.”
insane and iconic first line of this book.(6 may, 25)
edit:
i regret not writing down my thoughts earlier, but after “rejoice, wei wuxian is dead,” this has to be the most iconic opening.
November 3, 2025
“Come closer. You’re now the centre of my world, the apple of my eye. I can’t afford to lose you.”
At first, I’ll admit, Nan Chan had me a bit confused. The story drops you into a world full of mysteries, and it takes a while for things to start making sense. But that’s part of the charm—this is a tale you need to let unravel slowly, and trust me, it’s worth the wait. Before diving into the story itself, I have to gush about the dust cover. It’s absolutely stunning and minimalistic, making it one of my favorite covers among all the danmei I own. Rosmei did an incredible job with the design; it’s elegant and perfectly captures the vibe of the novel.
Now, onto the story. It centers around Jing Lin, an immortal who was believed to have perished long ago, yet is secretly still alive. His life is shrouded in mystery, and the plot takes its time revealing the secrets that surround him. Accompanying him is Cang Ji, his pet fish, who seems to absorb spiritual energy from him. There’s a subtle beauty in the way their relationship is depicted, with layers of meaning waiting to be discovered as the story unfolds.
The pacing is deliberate, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love how it adds to the atmosphere. There’s an almost poetic quality to the writing, creating a world that feels both ethereal and grounded in its mythology. There’s still so much to uncover, and I can’t wait to see how the story develops in the upcoming volumes. It’s one of those reads that leaves you with more questions than answers, in the best way possible.
Date Read:2024.09.08
At first, I’ll admit, Nan Chan had me a bit confused. The story drops you into a world full of mysteries, and it takes a while for things to start making sense. But that’s part of the charm—this is a tale you need to let unravel slowly, and trust me, it’s worth the wait. Before diving into the story itself, I have to gush about the dust cover. It’s absolutely stunning and minimalistic, making it one of my favorite covers among all the danmei I own. Rosmei did an incredible job with the design; it’s elegant and perfectly captures the vibe of the novel.
Now, onto the story. It centers around Jing Lin, an immortal who was believed to have perished long ago, yet is secretly still alive. His life is shrouded in mystery, and the plot takes its time revealing the secrets that surround him. Accompanying him is Cang Ji, his pet fish, who seems to absorb spiritual energy from him. There’s a subtle beauty in the way their relationship is depicted, with layers of meaning waiting to be discovered as the story unfolds.
The pacing is deliberate, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love how it adds to the atmosphere. There’s an almost poetic quality to the writing, creating a world that feels both ethereal and grounded in its mythology. There’s still so much to uncover, and I can’t wait to see how the story develops in the upcoming volumes. It’s one of those reads that leaves you with more questions than answers, in the best way possible.
Date Read:2024.09.08
June 20, 2026
I wasn’t really sure why I liked this book so much, but volume 1 made me realize that danmei has been giving me a kind of emotional fulfillment that a lot of books don’t lately, probably because I don’t read just for entertainment.
I’m not familiar with Buddhist themes, but Tang Jiu Qing’s writing in this book made it work for me. She creates a lyrical, fantastical, almost musical style that fits the story’s fantasy elements so well. 🥰
I realized I was paying more attention to how scenes felt than to actively piecing together the clues. To me, the way information is revealed feels shaped by atmosphere, as though you’re solving the mystery through mood as much as logic. 🤔
When moments of confrontation, conflict, or violence appear, they don’t really break that flow. They come quickly, feel sharp for a second, and then the story returns to its usual rhythm. But they still raise the stakes for Cang Ji and Jin Ling, and for the cases they get pulled into.
Cang Ji and Jin Ling’s dynamic is also really funny and interesting; they feel like they’re on completely different wavelengths. Cang Ji drifts through situations with a rather arrogant, unpredictable energy, while Jin Ling seems cold at first (though I think he’s actually quite soft underneath) and is often visibly exasperated. A lot of my enjoyment comes from that contrast lol. 😂
I’m not familiar with Buddhist themes, but Tang Jiu Qing’s writing in this book made it work for me. She creates a lyrical, fantastical, almost musical style that fits the story’s fantasy elements so well. 🥰
I realized I was paying more attention to how scenes felt than to actively piecing together the clues. To me, the way information is revealed feels shaped by atmosphere, as though you’re solving the mystery through mood as much as logic. 🤔
When moments of confrontation, conflict, or violence appear, they don’t really break that flow. They come quickly, feel sharp for a second, and then the story returns to its usual rhythm. But they still raise the stakes for Cang Ji and Jin Ling, and for the cases they get pulled into.
Cang Ji and Jin Ling’s dynamic is also really funny and interesting; they feel like they’re on completely different wavelengths. Cang Ji drifts through situations with a rather arrogant, unpredictable energy, while Jin Ling seems cold at first (though I think he’s actually quite soft underneath) and is often visibly exasperated. A lot of my enjoyment comes from that contrast lol. 😂
August 10, 2025
“‘Have you ever wondered...’ Jinglin turned his head, cheek brushing against Cangji's fingertips, yet his eyes remained aloof.
‘...who will ultimately end up devoured-you or me?’
"Doesn't matter if it's me." A spirit's cunning flashed across
Cangi's eyes. ‘As long as I end up with you.’”
This might be one of my new favorites so far. I like the way Cangji builds his “humanity” through the different bell mysteries, it feels super unique and not like anything I’ve read before.
I also like that Jinglin is slowly becoming attached too. Too many times I read a novel where his type of character remains cold until the end. It’s fun to see him thaw, even if it’s just a little bit.
I’m reading the next one right away.
‘...who will ultimately end up devoured-you or me?’
"Doesn't matter if it's me." A spirit's cunning flashed across
Cangi's eyes. ‘As long as I end up with you.’”
This might be one of my new favorites so far. I like the way Cangji builds his “humanity” through the different bell mysteries, it feels super unique and not like anything I’ve read before.
I also like that Jinglin is slowly becoming attached too. Too many times I read a novel where his type of character remains cold until the end. It’s fun to see him thaw, even if it’s just a little bit.
I’m reading the next one right away.
July 30, 2025
I loved it before I love it now. Translation is beautiful and words are just flowing (and breaking my heart).
The Rosmei edition? LUXURY
The Rosmei edition? LUXURY
January 1, 2026
4/5stars
The set up for this book is AWESOME. the first 200 pages were some of my favorite I've read in ages, like def a 5 star 200 pages - it's so incredibly unique and interesting and also confusing but in a way that had me biting at the bit to read more. In the beginning of this story we are introduced to a character who kills god, a pet fish (another fish danmei!! Danmei love fish!!!) who has come to consciousness and is quite mischievous, and a little stone statue who are all living in hiding in a little cottage in the woods.
Once Cangji comes to full consciousness and becomes a man and the bell goes missing, the true plot begins - to get back Jinglin's bell. And that, unfortunately, is where it started going down hill for me. I am definitely a character focused reader - a great plot is a huge bonus, but I prefer focusing on the characters and their dynamics and development. So, after the plot begins, I feel like our scenes with our two mcs really fall off and aren't nearly as frequent.
The story becomes this almost detective mystery solving story, and I'm just not a huge fan of the routine we got into with "find the person who has the bell, look for clues, figure out what happened, and then they show us via dreams/flashbacks how it happened and go into these random character's life stories". It was a bit boring, but the parts with our main couple were good enough to balance out the boring parts a bit at least.
I'm hoping the next volume breaks this repetitive routine and we get more about our couple cause I could absolutely see this becoming an all time fave!!
The set up for this book is AWESOME. the first 200 pages were some of my favorite I've read in ages, like def a 5 star 200 pages - it's so incredibly unique and interesting and also confusing but in a way that had me biting at the bit to read more. In the beginning of this story we are introduced to a character who kills god, a pet fish (another fish danmei!! Danmei love fish!!!) who has come to consciousness and is quite mischievous, and a little stone statue who are all living in hiding in a little cottage in the woods.
Once Cangji comes to full consciousness and becomes a man and the bell goes missing, the true plot begins - to get back Jinglin's bell. And that, unfortunately, is where it started going down hill for me. I am definitely a character focused reader - a great plot is a huge bonus, but I prefer focusing on the characters and their dynamics and development. So, after the plot begins, I feel like our scenes with our two mcs really fall off and aren't nearly as frequent.
The story becomes this almost detective mystery solving story, and I'm just not a huge fan of the routine we got into with "find the person who has the bell, look for clues, figure out what happened, and then they show us via dreams/flashbacks how it happened and go into these random character's life stories". It was a bit boring, but the parts with our main couple were good enough to balance out the boring parts a bit at least.
I'm hoping the next volume breaks this repetitive routine and we get more about our couple cause I could absolutely see this becoming an all time fave!!
August 1, 2025
Man oh man do I have *thoughts* on this. I'll try to keep things organized and out of context, as well as try my best to avoid potential spoilers as I know I have some moots reading through this as well rn.
My overall thoughts on this is that I'll likely have to reread this series once Rosmei releases the remaining volumes. I found this to be a real struggle to get through, and I'll be honest, because of this I've forgotten maybe a good chunk of what happened in the earlier parts of the book outside of some major points. I really had to force myself through this one... I found QJJ to be much faster pacing and, despite the complicated political plot with characters who at times don't even warrant remembering, much more engaging. That's not to say Nanchan wasn't enjoyable though. I still enjoyed certain aspect to the first volume.
I did enjoy the first three chapters along with the last few remaining ones, but the staleness to the plot centered around a character named Caoyu felt sluggish. When the story moved on to another character who moved through Caoyu's plot, only then did the pacing pick back up. Often times it felt like the plots centered around the human were slower paced and muddied, while the snippets that focused around Jinglin and Cangji were much more engaging.
Admittedly I'm not entirely sure what all is going on outside of things centered around our two main characters, but I did read a few posts on reddit that stated some folks were also in the same boat as me. This did make me feel a bit better, however, when these people looked up clarification and guidance as to what was going on they ended up having the entire series spoiled for them. So because of this I'm riding on the hope that things will become more obvious once maybe volume two arrives. I have some theories about what's going on with the bell, but there's not enough information or clarity with the first book for me to confirm this.
Another thing I found commonly mentioned was that if you didn't enjoy how politically heavy QJJ is, folks tended to enjoy Nanchan much better. Whereas folks who struggled or didn't find much interest with Nanchan ended up enjoying QJJ more. I feel like I'm somewhere in this boat, and I'm amused because Nanchan was the first Rosmei title I ordered, and I remember being very exited for it to arrive. But again, I'm hoping that the second volume will pull me deeper, because the first book was a bit grueling for me. I'm not certain if its because the chapters were much more of a hike to get through versus QJJ's smaller chapters that were easier to digest or not. But I'm still looking forward to seeing what the second volume will bring to the table, and what's in store for Jinglin and Cangji.
I would say that if you want an immersive fantasy cultivation read, with woven involvement of humans and yao, you'll probably like this and I would recommend it based off that. Just be prepared for some slower parts when the POVs shift.
My overall thoughts on this is that I'll likely have to reread this series once Rosmei releases the remaining volumes. I found this to be a real struggle to get through, and I'll be honest, because of this I've forgotten maybe a good chunk of what happened in the earlier parts of the book outside of some major points. I really had to force myself through this one... I found QJJ to be much faster pacing and, despite the complicated political plot with characters who at times don't even warrant remembering, much more engaging. That's not to say Nanchan wasn't enjoyable though. I still enjoyed certain aspect to the first volume.
I did enjoy the first three chapters along with the last few remaining ones, but the staleness to the plot centered around a character named Caoyu felt sluggish. When the story moved on to another character who moved through Caoyu's plot, only then did the pacing pick back up. Often times it felt like the plots centered around the human were slower paced and muddied, while the snippets that focused around Jinglin and Cangji were much more engaging.
Admittedly I'm not entirely sure what all is going on outside of things centered around our two main characters, but I did read a few posts on reddit that stated some folks were also in the same boat as me. This did make me feel a bit better, however, when these people looked up clarification and guidance as to what was going on they ended up having the entire series spoiled for them. So because of this I'm riding on the hope that things will become more obvious once maybe volume two arrives. I have some theories about what's going on with the bell, but there's not enough information or clarity with the first book for me to confirm this.
Another thing I found commonly mentioned was that if you didn't enjoy how politically heavy QJJ is, folks tended to enjoy Nanchan much better. Whereas folks who struggled or didn't find much interest with Nanchan ended up enjoying QJJ more. I feel like I'm somewhere in this boat, and I'm amused because Nanchan was the first Rosmei title I ordered, and I remember being very exited for it to arrive. But again, I'm hoping that the second volume will pull me deeper, because the first book was a bit grueling for me. I'm not certain if its because the chapters were much more of a hike to get through versus QJJ's smaller chapters that were easier to digest or not. But I'm still looking forward to seeing what the second volume will bring to the table, and what's in store for Jinglin and Cangji.
I would say that if you want an immersive fantasy cultivation read, with woven involvement of humans and yao, you'll probably like this and I would recommend it based off that. Just be prepared for some slower parts when the POVs shift.
January 21, 2025
It's probably odd to say that I got interested in this story after about 300 pages.
The main issue for me so far is that the most intriguing characters are not the central couple, whose personalities are honestly kind of...nebulous, still?
It's not helped by the fact that one of them, Jinglin, has either lost most of his memories, or simply isn't speaking about his past, so we know next to nothing about him after nearly 450 pages. It would be helpful if more of the story was shown through his internal narrative, so we could understand some of his motivations or actions. But nope. We only learn about him very, very, very slowly through interactions with other characters as they travel across the land. So that information remains scattered, contradictory, and shrouded in a ton of mystery.
His love interest, Cangji, is confusingly developed. He begins as a carp in a bowl (which seems deeply unhealthy, but I suppose that's not the point), then reaches enlightenment and a sentient, human form - something common to other spirits throughout the story, including an assortment of animals, a tree, and a brush (pen).
But because he jumps from carp to human toddler to full-grown man within a very short period of time, his brain and his personality don't develop all that naturally. He seems...oddly intelligent by the end of this volume, and I can't exactly figure out where he got any of that. Just from drinking Jinglin's blood and increasing his spiritual powers, I guess? I feel like I have no real sense of who he is as a character just yet. Again, it's been 450 pages, so why is so little of the focus on getting to know these two men?
It'll take me a while to truly get invested in the two of them and their relationship, because right now, I don't feel the chemistry there. It's weird because this is the same author as Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu , which had a fantastic first volume, great character development, and absolutely searing enemies-to-lovers chemistry amidst the gritty political plot.
If I didn't know from the name on the covers that these two stories came from the same pen, I never would've guessed it from the writing style...and a difference in publishing houses and translators can't change the narrative flow or character building that much, can it?
I'm not the biggest fan of Rosmei as a publisher thus far, but I'll probably leave that for later reviews with other series that they put even less effort into. At least this hardback has a pretty cover and decently readable pages/binding. It's so strange to me, though, that there isn't even a summary - I guess you're supposed to either know the story already (having read it online and just waiting for a physical English publication), or go into it blind and find out as you go.
But the plot doesn't kick in until probably 250 pages through it! Which is why I started to gain more interest at that point in the central mystery (the trafficking ring) and all the side characters whose fates are tied to it.
I had a brief blip where I'd thought this might be another enemies-to-lovers storyline. It's pretty obvious at this point that Cangji is some sort of reincarnation of the great Dragon Emperor who was slain by Jinglin's brother, Lirong. That's why my brain went to the idea that "Jinglin" might turn out to actually be his brother, Lirong, who's revealed late in the story to be wandering the mortal realm in human form, treading the path of the eight sufferings so he can burn out his past sorrows and regain enlightenment. It would make sense for him to unconsciously take on the form of his beloved brother, since Jinglin is always shapeshifting his appearance and imitating others' mannerisms.
But from a very quick scan online, I don't think that's the case, so both Jinglin and Lirong are following the same path somehow? And both tied to the dragon? Was there a connection between Jinglin and the dragon that no one knew about?
I don't know. I'm confused at this point, but willing to let those answers come out in the narrative. In the meantime, I've been enjoying the side characters, for the most part. I wasn't a big fan of the first one, with the girl and her horrible family and the martial artist who sacrificed himself out of grief. But I really liked Gu Shen, and the dueling scholar/brush and scholar/fox romances (?) are lovely and sad. The brush, Leyan, has all the depth and complexity and distinct personality that Cangji lacks.
One thing that doesn't make sense to me is the whole timeline of the other scholar's death. If he'd died a few days into the imperial examination, why would his fox lover be carrying his dead body to another town what must've been months later? We know it's certainly been at least several weeks, since that's how long it took them to reach the town after their first meeting on the boat, and that wasn't Chu Lun's first reveal as top scholar. So those pieces just don't fit.
The writing just feels a lot clunkier than in QJJ, but hopefully I'll like it more as it goes on.
The main issue for me so far is that the most intriguing characters are not the central couple, whose personalities are honestly kind of...nebulous, still?
It's not helped by the fact that one of them, Jinglin, has either lost most of his memories, or simply isn't speaking about his past, so we know next to nothing about him after nearly 450 pages. It would be helpful if more of the story was shown through his internal narrative, so we could understand some of his motivations or actions. But nope. We only learn about him very, very, very slowly through interactions with other characters as they travel across the land. So that information remains scattered, contradictory, and shrouded in a ton of mystery.
His love interest, Cangji, is confusingly developed. He begins as a carp in a bowl (which seems deeply unhealthy, but I suppose that's not the point), then reaches enlightenment and a sentient, human form - something common to other spirits throughout the story, including an assortment of animals, a tree, and a brush (pen).
But because he jumps from carp to human toddler to full-grown man within a very short period of time, his brain and his personality don't develop all that naturally. He seems...oddly intelligent by the end of this volume, and I can't exactly figure out where he got any of that. Just from drinking Jinglin's blood and increasing his spiritual powers, I guess? I feel like I have no real sense of who he is as a character just yet. Again, it's been 450 pages, so why is so little of the focus on getting to know these two men?
It'll take me a while to truly get invested in the two of them and their relationship, because right now, I don't feel the chemistry there. It's weird because this is the same author as Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu , which had a fantastic first volume, great character development, and absolutely searing enemies-to-lovers chemistry amidst the gritty political plot.
If I didn't know from the name on the covers that these two stories came from the same pen, I never would've guessed it from the writing style...and a difference in publishing houses and translators can't change the narrative flow or character building that much, can it?
I'm not the biggest fan of Rosmei as a publisher thus far, but I'll probably leave that for later reviews with other series that they put even less effort into. At least this hardback has a pretty cover and decently readable pages/binding. It's so strange to me, though, that there isn't even a summary - I guess you're supposed to either know the story already (having read it online and just waiting for a physical English publication), or go into it blind and find out as you go.
But the plot doesn't kick in until probably 250 pages through it! Which is why I started to gain more interest at that point in the central mystery (the trafficking ring) and all the side characters whose fates are tied to it.
I had a brief blip where I'd thought this might be another enemies-to-lovers storyline. It's pretty obvious at this point that Cangji is some sort of reincarnation of the great Dragon Emperor who was slain by Jinglin's brother, Lirong. That's why my brain went to the idea that "Jinglin" might turn out to actually be his brother, Lirong, who's revealed late in the story to be wandering the mortal realm in human form, treading the path of the eight sufferings so he can burn out his past sorrows and regain enlightenment. It would make sense for him to unconsciously take on the form of his beloved brother, since Jinglin is always shapeshifting his appearance and imitating others' mannerisms.
But from a very quick scan online, I don't think that's the case, so both Jinglin and Lirong are following the same path somehow? And both tied to the dragon? Was there a connection between Jinglin and the dragon that no one knew about?
I don't know. I'm confused at this point, but willing to let those answers come out in the narrative. In the meantime, I've been enjoying the side characters, for the most part. I wasn't a big fan of the first one, with the girl and her horrible family and the martial artist who sacrificed himself out of grief. But I really liked Gu Shen, and the dueling scholar/brush and scholar/fox romances (?) are lovely and sad. The brush, Leyan, has all the depth and complexity and distinct personality that Cangji lacks.
One thing that doesn't make sense to me is the whole timeline of the other scholar's death. If he'd died a few days into the imperial examination, why would his fox lover be carrying his dead body to another town what must've been months later? We know it's certainly been at least several weeks, since that's how long it took them to reach the town after their first meeting on the boat, and that wasn't Chu Lun's first reveal as top scholar. So those pieces just don't fit.
The writing just feels a lot clunkier than in QJJ, but hopefully I'll like it more as it goes on.
October 5, 2025
T97 back at it again with a danmei that I loved but am too stupid to keep up with 💯
In all seriousness though this was absolutely lovely and I can’t wait to read volume 2
In all seriousness though this was absolutely lovely and I can’t wait to read volume 2
March 30, 2025
I was really confused at the beginning. I went in completely blind, because there’s no synopsis for the story.
The story often jumps from one storyline to other, and you definitely need to be alert while reading, or you’ll end up really confused.
The story is about Jinglin, who killed his father, and almost died while fighting his brother. He survived, and had a pet fish Cangji, who cultivated into a human, but now wants to eat Jinglin to cultivate further.
Together they follow Jinglin’s bell that leads them to places, where injustice happened, so they’re figuring out, what happened.
It’s definitely an interesting story, and while the storytelling could have been better, I still enjoyed it once I understood, what’s going on.
The story often jumps from one storyline to other, and you definitely need to be alert while reading, or you’ll end up really confused.
The story is about Jinglin, who killed his father, and almost died while fighting his brother. He survived, and had a pet fish Cangji, who cultivated into a human, but now wants to eat Jinglin to cultivate further.
Together they follow Jinglin’s bell that leads them to places, where injustice happened, so they’re figuring out, what happened.
It’s definitely an interesting story, and while the storytelling could have been better, I still enjoyed it once I understood, what’s going on.
May 31, 2025
I am flabbergasted, as expected this book is amazing!!!!!!!!!! 10000000/10
November 4, 2025
Love this style of show and not tell from T97.
Has fantastic fight scenes and hard-hitting emotional tragedies. It's a heartstring puller.
Has fantastic fight scenes and hard-hitting emotional tragedies. It's a heartstring puller.
May 10, 2024
going to go bonkers when I can finally read Nanchan again
July 11, 2025
This one took forever and I felt every single page. I was so bored and could not connect to either of the mc. I’m so sad cause this was the one I was waiting to read. I really hope book two is where I feel more of a connection….
April 2, 2026
4.5. It's just getting more interesting as we go and I'm SO invested in the backstories and the missing information we don't have yet. I love these two and their dynamic so much and can't wait to see how this turns out.
August 14, 2025
The first 200 or so pages were too slow-paced and so boring that I almost gave up reading it. The only reason I did eventually finish reading it is that the plot itself was interesting right from the beginning. The only problem was that it was told in the most boring way possible. I'm not saying it was bad per se, perhaps the writing style is just not to my taste.
The story started picking up pace and became more interesting after reading nearly 300 pages. The main characters became more likeable and less annoying. Especially Cang Ji, although I still hate how he calls the stone figure near the end of the novel his comrade, even though he harassed and even kicked him with his foot several times throughout the book. This was such a hypocritical move. It is also implied near the end that Jing Lin and the stone figure are the same person, and based on their behaviour they probably are.
The relationship between the main characters developed somewhat by the end, although Cang Ji's sexual desire for Jing Lin felt too sudden and out of the blue. Yes, he desired to devour him as a demon from the beginning, but this desire, which turned more sexual, was way too sudden. At one point, he was a demon filled with the desire to devour Jing Lin's soul, and the next, he was turned on. There was no transition between the two as the first gradually becomes the second, so I felt it was too sudden and lacking in emotion. Perhaps it was intentional, perhaps it wasn't, I wouldn't know. The novel was okay, and I'll read the next volumes to find out how the story will end, but only because the second half was a lot more interesting than the first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2026
Where to begin.
I placed my order for these books before I reached the volume of Ballad of Sword and Wine that made me think less of Tang Jiu Qing as a writer. I am not one for hate-reading; I wouldn't have picked up this series if I'd made that connection sooner.
And yet, I'm really glad I did? Listen: TJQ is actually a fucking riot when she's not trying to do "grimdark" realism; her fantasy is colorful, ambitious, adventurous, full of life and personality. She gets weird and FUN with this book and this series, her mains being a disgraced former lord of the heavens who is supposed to be dead, and the pet carp who craves to devour him and use his immense spiritual essence to cultivate into something other than a carp. I know it doesn't sound like much! It works like gangbusters. The first hundred or so pages of this volume were the most fun I've had in a very long time.
And then those hundred-some pages end, and TJQ goes grimdark again.
Listen: I know there's a conflation between authors who enjoy writing really dark, twisted stuff, and actual criminals. I know there's a similar conflation between people who enjoy reading dark and twisted stuff. I know we're struggling with a new Puritanical mindset that has me grinding my teeth, especially when discussing danmei, which is literally supposed to be a "safe" outlet for otherwise not-so-socially-appropriate desires of supposed straight women.
I'm not here for that conflation. What I'm saying is: when TJQ goes grimdark, it reminds me of those white suburban moms who have lived off a media diet of Law and Order: SVU episodes and true crime podcasts, and now think they're being targeted for human trafficking when they park their SUVs at Walmart. All of her "grimdark" is, for me, PUNISHINGLY gross, depressing, and over-the-top, meant to shock but also titillate. And I find that fucking tasteless. Listen, I am not above truly dark crimes framed as entertainment, even putting the reader inside the head of its perpetrators as entertainment. I will vouch for stories that deliberately use violence and horror to upset their reader, to motivate them or broaden their awareness of social ills.
But what, exactly is the POINT of the hundreds and hundreds of pages of intimate detailing of sexual and physical violence against women and children, in Nan Chan? What is the point of
And hey, if TJQ pulls this off and MAKES it meaningful, I will come back and eat my words in this review. But right now, it's just... yeah, the word I keep coming back to is tasteless. It doesn't have any immediate effect, or even emotional effect, on the mains or the main story. It's just 狗血 and bathos, evil for the sake of portraying the broadest, almost comically improbable evil lifestyles and attitudes possible. (Much like I complained about in Ballad's third volume.) There's no insight into social evils or systematic injustice, it's just torturing characters written to be victims in order to bloat the word count, give the mains something to do, and make the constant narrative tangents feel "deep."
... but then we get back to the main story, with the main characters, and I'm reading a great book again! TJQ is still not as thoughtful in her plotting and characterization as I'd like -- a lot of reviews here are saying something along the lines of 'am I too dumb to follow this story' and, no, TJQ is just that slapdash sometimes -- but oh my god, it's fun. The mains' voices are so distinct and interesting. When we're not trying to make everyone lose their lunch, this world and its inhabitants are unique and captivating. Hurrah!
Except.
Okay. I know I talk a lot of shit on GR. I hate to talk this particular shit, because translation is a mind-melting job that pays so little for so much work, I know, I know.
But this is a rancid translation.
It starts out okay. Serviceable! It's definitely not 'wuxia beginner'-friendly -- you'll have to fill in gaps yourself, like how it reads 'carp' when it means 'brocade carp' or how Jinglin's sleeve is obviously a qiankun space and that's why he constantly stashing fish and stone figures in there. There really should be more cultural footnotes, or at least a glossary of concepts. And there is no punishment equal to the travesty that is the transcribed "peasant accents," who say "ya" and for every "you" and "o'course" for "of course" etc. I get it; they're uneducated. What accent IS this, though? Besides borderline indecipherable?
Anyway, it starts out fine. But by the final three-four chapters, you can really tell the publication deadline was coming because, woah. The amount of times I had to pause, parse several options of what a sentence could have meant, pick the one that makes the most sense in context, and only then read on...
I don't have the Chinese text in front of me. (I want to. The translation is that awful: I feel like I need to see it for myself.) I'm not even saying I could have done better, my Chinese is shit. But the English in this volume is shit, and someone got paid for this job, and it's not a good one. A lot of phrases that simply don't scan in English -- I can imagine their Chinese equivalent, but there needed to be more work done to make it sound like an actual sentence a native English speaker would form, or to have the impact as intended. (Translator, if you're reading this: it would be very rare for a native English speaker to use the word "odour" in a context that isn't negative, even if the word itself is technically neutral.) I know the translation work is probably all but finished, but man, I really wish Rosmei had editors polish this one up beyond the more basic translation job.
That said: I've endured worse, in terms of writing choices and translation, for a story that promises to be this juicy. One star subtracted for TJQ's cheap tricks, another for a translation that strips all the elegance from the text, but I still had fun. So, depending on how it all ends, this might be a re-read in future.
I placed my order for these books before I reached the volume of Ballad of Sword and Wine that made me think less of Tang Jiu Qing as a writer. I am not one for hate-reading; I wouldn't have picked up this series if I'd made that connection sooner.
And yet, I'm really glad I did? Listen: TJQ is actually a fucking riot when she's not trying to do "grimdark" realism; her fantasy is colorful, ambitious, adventurous, full of life and personality. She gets weird and FUN with this book and this series, her mains being a disgraced former lord of the heavens who is supposed to be dead, and the pet carp who craves to devour him and use his immense spiritual essence to cultivate into something other than a carp. I know it doesn't sound like much! It works like gangbusters. The first hundred or so pages of this volume were the most fun I've had in a very long time.
And then those hundred-some pages end, and TJQ goes grimdark again.
Listen: I know there's a conflation between authors who enjoy writing really dark, twisted stuff, and actual criminals. I know there's a similar conflation between people who enjoy reading dark and twisted stuff. I know we're struggling with a new Puritanical mindset that has me grinding my teeth, especially when discussing danmei, which is literally supposed to be a "safe" outlet for otherwise not-so-socially-appropriate desires of supposed straight women.
I'm not here for that conflation. What I'm saying is: when TJQ goes grimdark, it reminds me of those white suburban moms who have lived off a media diet of Law and Order: SVU episodes and true crime podcasts, and now think they're being targeted for human trafficking when they park their SUVs at Walmart. All of her "grimdark" is, for me, PUNISHINGLY gross, depressing, and over-the-top, meant to shock but also titillate. And I find that fucking tasteless. Listen, I am not above truly dark crimes framed as entertainment, even putting the reader inside the head of its perpetrators as entertainment. I will vouch for stories that deliberately use violence and horror to upset their reader, to motivate them or broaden their awareness of social ills.
But what, exactly is the POINT of the hundreds and hundreds of pages of intimate detailing of sexual and physical violence against women and children, in Nan Chan? What is the point of
And hey, if TJQ pulls this off and MAKES it meaningful, I will come back and eat my words in this review. But right now, it's just... yeah, the word I keep coming back to is tasteless. It doesn't have any immediate effect, or even emotional effect, on the mains or the main story. It's just 狗血 and bathos, evil for the sake of portraying the broadest, almost comically improbable evil lifestyles and attitudes possible. (Much like I complained about in Ballad's third volume.) There's no insight into social evils or systematic injustice, it's just torturing characters written to be victims in order to bloat the word count, give the mains something to do, and make the constant narrative tangents feel "deep."
... but then we get back to the main story, with the main characters, and I'm reading a great book again! TJQ is still not as thoughtful in her plotting and characterization as I'd like -- a lot of reviews here are saying something along the lines of 'am I too dumb to follow this story' and, no, TJQ is just that slapdash sometimes -- but oh my god, it's fun. The mains' voices are so distinct and interesting. When we're not trying to make everyone lose their lunch, this world and its inhabitants are unique and captivating. Hurrah!
Except.
Okay. I know I talk a lot of shit on GR. I hate to talk this particular shit, because translation is a mind-melting job that pays so little for so much work, I know, I know.
But this is a rancid translation.
It starts out okay. Serviceable! It's definitely not 'wuxia beginner'-friendly -- you'll have to fill in gaps yourself, like how it reads 'carp' when it means 'brocade carp' or how Jinglin's sleeve is obviously a qiankun space and that's why he constantly stashing fish and stone figures in there. There really should be more cultural footnotes, or at least a glossary of concepts. And there is no punishment equal to the travesty that is the transcribed "peasant accents," who say "ya" and for every "you" and "o'course" for "of course" etc. I get it; they're uneducated. What accent IS this, though? Besides borderline indecipherable?
Anyway, it starts out fine. But by the final three-four chapters, you can really tell the publication deadline was coming because, woah. The amount of times I had to pause, parse several options of what a sentence could have meant, pick the one that makes the most sense in context, and only then read on...
I don't have the Chinese text in front of me. (I want to. The translation is that awful: I feel like I need to see it for myself.) I'm not even saying I could have done better, my Chinese is shit. But the English in this volume is shit, and someone got paid for this job, and it's not a good one. A lot of phrases that simply don't scan in English -- I can imagine their Chinese equivalent, but there needed to be more work done to make it sound like an actual sentence a native English speaker would form, or to have the impact as intended. (Translator, if you're reading this: it would be very rare for a native English speaker to use the word "odour" in a context that isn't negative, even if the word itself is technically neutral.) I know the translation work is probably all but finished, but man, I really wish Rosmei had editors polish this one up beyond the more basic translation job.
That said: I've endured worse, in terms of writing choices and translation, for a story that promises to be this juicy. One star subtracted for TJQ's cheap tricks, another for a translation that strips all the elegance from the text, but I still had fun. So, depending on how it all ends, this might be a re-read in future.
November 3, 2024
I started reading this immediately after finishing QJJ volume 2 and seeing this was the same author. I was thinking Cezhou are fucking freaks so surely there will be more of that here.
I was soooo right. Volume 1 of this book is basically... Cannibalism as a love language. Cannibalism as eroticism. Biting and blood licking and becoming one through consumption. Delicious.
The story is also extremely intriguing so far - the eight worldy sufferings, what Cangji's and Jinglin's histories are. I can't wait for the next volume.
Also the print quality is so good. Crazy. Rosmei books are so high quality.
I was soooo right. Volume 1 of this book is basically... Cannibalism as a love language. Cannibalism as eroticism. Biting and blood licking and becoming one through consumption. Delicious.
The story is also extremely intriguing so far - the eight worldy sufferings, what Cangji's and Jinglin's histories are. I can't wait for the next volume.
Also the print quality is so good. Crazy. Rosmei books are so high quality.
May 24, 2026
Ler o primeiro volume de Nan Chan foi uma experiência única, mas me deixou com sentimentos bem divididos. Como não costumo ler obras desse gênero, o livro acabou sendo uma surpresa. O universo é riquíssimo, a escrita tem uma estética visual quase poética e a dinâmica obsessiva entre os protagonistas prende muito justamente por ser fora do comum.
O problema é que o desconforto durante a leitura é constante. A narrativa não faz questão nenhuma de suavizar os temas pesados, e a forma crua e explícita como o Caso Chen Caoyu é tratado me causou um incômodo profundo.
O que me deixa genuinamente curiosa, no entanto, é o mistério que envolve o passado dos personagens.
O problema é que o desconforto durante a leitura é constante. A narrativa não faz questão nenhuma de suavizar os temas pesados, e a forma crua e explícita como o Caso Chen Caoyu é tratado me causou um incômodo profundo.
O que me deixa genuinamente curiosa, no entanto, é o mistério que envolve o passado dos personagens.
March 29, 2026
4.25 stars
Oh, I can already tell it's going to be painful.
It's been such a long time since I've read a novel in which we are thrown in the middle of the story and we actually uncover bits of the past slowly, chapter by chapter. It was such a breath of fresh air.
I really like the dynamic between Jing Lin and Cang Ji, and while I have my theories, I'll patiently wait for the story to unravel.
A very strong start.
Oh, I can already tell it's going to be painful.
It's been such a long time since I've read a novel in which we are thrown in the middle of the story and we actually uncover bits of the past slowly, chapter by chapter. It was such a breath of fresh air.
I really like the dynamic between Jing Lin and Cang Ji, and while I have my theories, I'll patiently wait for the story to unravel.
A very strong start.
March 28, 2025
La portada es preciosa y hasta dulce para los temas que trata. Trata de humanos, casos muy duros y situaciones devastadoras y todo desde la visión de nuestros protagonistas, pero desde un punto de desconexión por ser inmortales o no.
Puede que Jinglin se convierta en uno de mis personajes favoritos.
Puede que Jinglin se convierta en uno de mis personajes favoritos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 3, 2025I just found out that volume 3 isn't out yet i was fully prepared to binge read the whole thing this week 😭 great characters and interesting supernatural mysteries. the main couples past seems a little easy to guess but I still like them a lot. the writing is very poetic and the anecdotes throughout repeat the question of why people have to be "fated" to suffer.
February 16, 2026
There was a period of time where I was confused and a little worried about the story getting more convoluted, but stick this one out to the end. It will start coming together and making more sense. And you will still have SO many questions, but that's okay. Also, that ending? I wanted to scream and throw the book (positive connotation).
December 31, 2024
a very cool story of reincarnation (?), fate and soulmates. The beginning of the original pair is somewhat dubious/nc (?, altho I need the full backstory to actually judge) - will need the next volume soon because the fan translation is kinda doubtful.
August 27, 2025
Took me a while to get into the story. I'm still not sure how I feel about it.
It's intriguing to learn more about the characters but it's also very hard to get attached to them as their personalities are still a mystery.
I still want to read the next volume but I'm not overly obsessed with it.
It's intriguing to learn more about the characters but it's also very hard to get attached to them as their personalities are still a mystery.
I still want to read the next volume but I'm not overly obsessed with it.
October 30, 2024
DNF
Lo volveré a intentar dentro de unos meses
Lo volveré a intentar dentro de unos meses
March 2, 2025
dawno się tak nie czułam czytając książkę. to było jak baśń i sen jednocześnie. nie mogę się doczekać kiedy dowiem się co dalej. also. ta książka ląduje w moich ulubionych.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews