Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) Vol. 5

Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) #5

by Meng Xi Shi, Me.Mimo (Illustrator), Faelicy (Translator)

POISON AND PERIL IN THE CAPITAL

Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao have thwarted the corrupt officials embezzling grain in Guangqian County, but the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai and their elusive leader, Xiao Lü, remain at large. As Feng Xiao recovers from the battle, he finds his relationship with Cui Buqu on new footing—though Cui Buqu will be last to admit it.

Yet on their way back to the capital, a strange new case leaves them both at a loss: The entire household of a villa has been brutally massacred, and there’s no sign of the murderer. The only traces they find point to an arcane poison—one that, if deployed in the Sui capital, could put the empire itself at risk. Yet time is running out for Cui Buqu, whose precarious health continues to deteriorate. To get to the bottom of this final case, he must put his very life on the line in the investigative duo’s greatest trial yet.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Romance, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Mystery, China

416 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Associated Names:
* Meng Xi Shi (English)
* 梦溪石 (Chinese)
* เมิ่งซีสือ (Thai)

Reviews

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I don't think I have ever loved a book as deeply as I do, while simultaneously feeling such frustration and annoyance with it. This final volume managed to meet my high expectations, yet it still left me with a sense of disappointment. The plot unfolded at a breakneck pace, and by the time I reached the final pages, I found myself emotionally spent. Events seemed to cascade one after another—danger after danger—a whirlwind that left me with little time to pause and catch my breath.

Despite the tumultuous nature of this volume, which pushed me through countless stages of annoyance, I still found a great deal of enjoyment within its pages. While there were aspects that let me down, the story ultimately resonated so well that I could easily overlook those disappointments.

Feng Xiao continues to be a character I adore completely. His beauty, perfection, and undeniable arrogance make him an irresistible presence in the narrative. Not once did I find him irritating; in fact, he embodies the very essence of what makes this story worth reading. He is, without a doubt, the heart of this danmei for me and will forever remain my all-time favorite character.

Cui Buqu, however, presents a different challenge for me. While I respect his extraordinary intellect and admire the reverence he garners from others, he can annoy me to an exasperating degree—so much so that I often felt the urge to shout at him in frustration. This particular volume escalated my irritation with him to new heights, testing my patience to the brink. Yet, despite these feelings, I still harbor a fondness for him; he simply clashes with my personality in a way that prevents me from fully embracing him.

The dynamic between Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu was truly the silver lining amidst the chaos of this volume. Their flirtation is wonderfully amusing, so much so that I often found myself rolling my eyes but with a smile plastered on my face. The way they interact is infused with playful insults, and I loved every moment of it. There's something uniquely charming about their relationship—despite my typical distaste for this kind of banter between characters. It’s evident that they bring out the best in each other, and watching them grow more honest—at least in their own distinct way—added a layer of depth to their connection.

In conclusion, this series wrapped up in a way that, while not flawless, was incredibly satisfying and brought me immense joy. It has been a journey filled with ups and downs, and I cherished every moment of it.

[Len · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it’s a MXS’s novel when the characters don’t say “I love you” but they would die and kill for each other. FengCui are my third favorite danmei couple.

[Brigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expected a bigger splash for the finale, so it was bit anticlimactic. But as always I enjoyed Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao together. They're very cute!

[ir · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy to say, i loved the way this final volume came out. the plot kept me locked in and it was very engaging, there were so many cute moments between the two main characters (seeing cui buqu fall in love and try to conceal it >>), moments where they each got to shine individually (especially cui buqu, the boss he is), and a lot of funny scenes. the ending of this was satisfying (perfect note and passage to end the main story on) and though i wish there could be a bit more fluffy moments between the couple, it’s not a huge deal (and more extras, please).

cui buqu," he said savagely. "let me say this: i’ll never look at you again for as long as you live, even if you beg!"

then he saw cui buqu smile.

feng xiao had never seen cui buqu smile like that before: serene and genuine, without any hint of mockery. it was the joy of somcone whod struggled through innumerable tribulations, traversing fire and ice to be greeted, at last, with paradise.

"to live and see you again is a wonderful thing," cul buqu said.

feng xiao's heart instantly softened.

also, just something about the volume itself… i just purchased the normal standard edition of this and didn’t know it came with a poster? i appreciate the hard work of artists but, honestly, my opinions on the official art can be mixed sometimes but, i just love the poster so much. it’s actually beautiful. (another thing - it’s sooo cute how the inner side of book cover has a peacock and fox entertwined, a very touching detail.)

[z ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE’S BALD!!!! he’s bald and he’s torturing people who have hair!!!!

fengcui i will miss you

[V~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol 5: 4.4/5 🌟
Novel: 4.5/5 🌟

If bickering was a love language, Feng Cui would be in the front cover and be the literal definition of it. These two scenarios are my way of interpreting both of their relationship:
♦️ Scenario 1

🦚Feng Xiao, being the arrogant peacock
-Loves to tease him(poking the cat).
-Finds him so endearing
🦊 Cui Buqu like a cat and scheming fox
-bites back with vicious words and sarcasm
🦚Feng Xiao
-Becomes irritated
-Attempts to one up him with more sarcasm
🦊Cui Buqu like a scheming fox
-Drops the mother of all mic drops
-Turns and shows his but to said peacock
🦚Feng Xiao
-Utterly speechless
-Blood pressure rises
-Veins bulging
-Prances on CBQ, leaving him immobile.
-Finally, he smothers him in kisses
🦊Cui Buqu all flushed and pink
-Grrr! … visibly angry
-Loves it anyway, but will never say it.

♦️ Scenario 2:

🦊Cui Buqu that sees an ointment that’s great for anti-aging
-Thinks of Feng Xiao and his radiant beauty, “this might be useful for him. I hope he likes it…”
-*blush blush*
-Sends for FX’s attendant to deliver it to him, leaving her speechless. Tells her to not tell him it’s from him.
🦚Feng Xiao minding his own business receives the gift:
-Catches his lying attendants
-After they confess the truth, his peacock feathers flutter
-Next time he sees Buqu: “So… I got your gift.”
🦊Cui Buqu
-“You’re dreaming. It’s only because it’ll be a shame if you turned ugly and seeing it would make me more ill.”
🦚Feng Xiao
-Fuming. Blood pressure rising. Forced a smile.
-“So you admit I’m pretty and you liked my face?”

⚠️ Spoilers from here on ⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
But don’t get it wrong. Their love has flourished into something that only fits them. Like YWS not changing his asshole morals, learned to accept SQ’s kindness, making him the only exception. Feng Xiao has learned to find everything Cui Buqu does, so precious. When Cui Buqu is in danger, it’s the only time Feng Xiao has ever panicked. He said in his own words:

“My enemies are all dead. This person isn’t allowed to die. I want them to live a good, long life.”

“Cui Buqu, I like you. If you live, I’ll deign to stay by your side for a lifetime. If you die, even if the Zuoyue Bureau buries you, I will dig up your grave and scatter your bones. i will ensure your souls cannot rest and will never reincarnate.”

“I was thinking about my beloved… for some reason, I find them charming. Even when they throw tantrums, even when they’re concocting schemes, I find them remarkably endearing. And without me around, their time may be limited— to ensure their survival and keep them on their toes, I must keep a close watch.”

Cui Buqu on the other hand, has lived such a harsh life. One with lots of pain and illness. Every day is a struggle of life and death in his weak and feeble body. But despite his circumstances, he has the mind and grit of steal. His will power to live is incredible! His words are like venom and shut down his enemies.
With life so hard, he found his ray of sunlight in Fengxiao. This part made me cry so much:

With the vast expanse of darkness and treachery, one person rose in his mind’s eye. Someone born into privilege, untouched by hardship and graced with both striking beauty and a flamboyant personality. Thanks to this man, Cui Buqu had discovered the true meaning of living in the sunlight. Each time he drew near, Cui Buqu felt a step closer to the exhilarating world of life— even if that man was neither gentle nor kind, and challenged him at every turn. He often found himself diverting his attention with the traps this man set for him. It was a constant irritation, yet it breathed life into his days.
Of course, he’d never share those thought with him. This man would spend the rest of his life gloating and rubbing it in his face. For the sake of his ears, it was better to say nothing…
There was something he’d yet to do. There was someone he needed to see. He couldn’t leave.
He didn’t want to die.
He wanted to live…
“I entrust my life to you. I’ll hold no grudges if I die.”

Their relationship is everything. UGH! I love them!
Now, let’s talk about the cons:


I wish we could have gotten Cui Buqu say he’s loves Feng Xiao. I wish we could have seen Feng Xiao apologize for how poorly he treated Cui Buqu in the beginning.

Also, did Qiao Xian really die?? And is there more between her and Pei Jingzhe get together????

I feel like Xiao Lu got a rather satisfying ending. He didn’t die alone and Yuwen Yihuan died in the same place. I hated him so much and his act of revenge was strong…. But oh man was he annoying! The Geokturk’s prince died so simply. It was just mentioned in one page and the author just washed her hands of so many things.

So much blah blah blah happened without having a well rounded ending. So climatic but then it just… to swiftly ended. So many things were brought up, especially in the temple arc trying to make a well rounded world… but so much of it was meaningless and could have been left out. I would have liked to know wtf happened with the rest of the world…! I don’t care about this stupid temple!

I think Cui Buqu suffered too much. Poor baby did not deserve it. T^T it literally gave me so much anxiety! Him giving his fungus pills to Xiao Lu was the ultimate act of human kindness. He felt his pain as a fellow invalid.

Glad Xiao Lu gave him the Jade essence and passed it on to CBQ so CBQ could survive.
The pain and anxiety was never ending for over half of the book… i was miserable! It just kept coming in waves of the enemy winning!

[Queens Love Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Cui Buqu, I like you. If you live, I'll deign to stay by your side for a lifetime. If you die, even if the Zuoyue Bureau buries you, I will dig up your grave and scatter your bones. I will ensure your sould cannot rest and will never reincarnate."



I went into this volume with high expectations. The previous installment set things up for what felt like a big, dramatic finish, so I was ready for something explosive. Instead, the story pulls back. New villains are introduced late in the game, which shifts the momentum rather than building on what was already in motion. The fights are toned down, the reveals land with a thud, and when the main story wraps, I found myself flipping back wondering—wait, that’s it? It doesn’t feel earned, and while the extra stories are a nice bonus, they don’t do much to fill the gap.

The writing is still sharp. The dialogue continues to carry a lot of emotional weight, balancing sarcasm, psychological tension, and subtle intimacy. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu remain the magnetic heart of the series, clashing in all the right ways—witty, guarded, quietly intense. There are flashes of brilliance: mind games, identity shifts, and that one underground showdown that had me holding my breath. The story keeps its clever tone, the prose polished and controlled, but where previous volumes built tension like a slow fuse, this one never really sparks.

Before reading, I skimmed through the illustrations and cracked up—they’re so well-timed and unexpectedly funny. I still admire how layered and intelligent this series is, and fans who are in it for the long game will find pieces to enjoy. But for a final volume, this didn’t land as hard as I hoped. Quiet and introspective, sure—but too quiet to feel satisfying.

Date Read: 2025.11.04

[Linnea⊹ ‧₊˚ ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WANT MORE

[thedeadlyscimitar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through Peerless has been a wild ride and a joy that I treasured every minute of! Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao both turned out to be some of my favorite danmei characters and I’m definitely going to miss them now that I’ve completed the series. I’m sad that it’s over and sad that I won’t be able to get anymore FengCui. That’s part of the reason why I wish that Meng Xi Shi had written one more volume of this series.

As much as I enjoyed this final installment, I did feel like it was a bit rushed. I wish that more time had been taken on this final arc to flesh things out and wrap up the story in a more satisfactory manner. I did enjoy the ending, but I feel like it could have been better if it was given a little more time to breathe. It sort of seemed that new antagonists like Kuhezhen, Tu’an Qinghe and Yuwen Yihuan kind of came out of nowhere while the established antagonists, Xiao Lu and his Thirteen Floors of Yunhai, took a bit of a backseat. Considering how much they’ve been built up as the main antagonists throughout the entire story, I found this a little bit disappointing and anticlimactic. That’s not to say that the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai didn’t play a major role in the ending or that they weren’t still a formidable obstacle for our main characters, I just wish that maybe the Gokturks hadn’t been thrown in the mix at the end or at the very least, this part of the plot had been given more time to develop rather than being scrunched in the final few chapters.

I also wasn’t really a fan of the fact that Feng Xiao ended up going bald basically just for the sake of comedy. When I saw the picture of him being bald on the inside cover at the front of the book, I thought there would be plot related reasons. Sadly, there really weren’t. Although the reasons behind it were pretty funny, I still found it a little excessive for the sake of one comedic scene. I know this is a bit of a silly complaint, but I love Feng Xiao’s long hair and I was a little disappointed that he ended the story by being bald. Definitely a very minor, superficial nitpick but it was still something that bothered me.

Overall, however, I really enjoyed this final volume and my only real regret is that it’s over. I think Meng Xi Shi’s greatest strength as an author is her ability to create fascinating, complex and lovable characters. Cui Buqu is one of my all time favorites. He is an incredibly strong willed, intelligent and determined person who has overcome countless hardships and adversity. I love that he is ruthless and “hard-hearted” on the outside, but he does it all for the sake of protecting others who are too weak or kindhearted to protect themselves because, deep down, Cui Buqu is also very kindhearted. As for Feng Xiao, I started out strongly disliking him, but as the story went on, I grew to love him more and more. A lot of the traits, quirks and character flaws that had previously irked me about him somehow became endearing over the course of the novel until he ended up becoming one of my favorite danmei characters. It wasn’t so much that Feng Xiao changed, although I do feel like he had some significant character development, as much as Meng Xi Shi somehow worked her magic to make me fall in love with him just like I did Yan Wushi in Thousand Autumns. Fortunately, unlike Yan Wushi, Feng Xiao never did anything in the story that I found impossible to forgive (if you’ve read Thousand Autumns then I’m sure you’ll know what I’m referring to). Overall, though I felt like Yan Wushi was more charismatic, I ultimately ended up liking Feng Xiao more.

The characters and their hilarious interactions with one another were by far my favorite part of this story. I absolutely adore Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu’s banter and constant bickering. I like that they fell for each other because they continue to challenge one another. I also really loved a lot of the side characters in this story like Pei Jingzhe, Qiao Xian and Qin Miaoyu. I don’t feel like any of these characters get as much love and recognition as they deserve. I also wish that Qiao Xian hadn’t been mostly absent from this volume.

The story of Peerless was both hilariously funny and often deeply moving. I really liked how things ended for Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, although I wish that we had gotten to see them together more as an actual couple. Even so, I really loved the lines shared between them at the end of the novel. I loved watching their relationship slowly develop and blossom over time and this will always remain one of my favorite pairings. Definitely the best instance of rivals to lovers that I’ve ever read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not quite the epic finale I hoped for, I still adore Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao. Their wit and chemistry are worth the read alone, even if the plot itself becomes overly convoluted at times.

While I wish more attention had been given to the romance, there are some wonderful moments in this volume that reinforce how much these two mean to each other.

I will definitely do a reread at some point, as I believe some elements may work better if the series is binged.

I very much enjoyed my read of Peerless, and am satisfied with the series overall.

[Benji · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished it and I’m sad, I wish there was more haha. This book has made it into my top 5 danmei, it’s so much fun and there’s a great mix of humor, action, and political intrigue. Feng Xiao’s one of my favorite characters I’ve ever read, bro is so unserious and self-absorbed. Ending was stressful but satisfying, I loved seeing Cui Buqu gradually accept his feelings for Feng Xiao.

[NiaKantorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

This was a compelling ending. Their relationship developed into a much steadier one than anticipated. As with all other volumes the sense of humour was once again delightful. I especially loved the povs of the different side characters. To get glimpses of how they perceived Cui BuQu and Feng Xian’s interactions and relationships was too funny.

In parts I found it a bit wild with more baddies entering the fray and the location of the showdown. I also thought it was a bit too convenient how one of the masterminds died. But nothing comes to mind that diminished my reading flow.

I have been asking myself if I love Peerless more or less than Thousand Autumns and am unable to decide that rn. Maybe after a while my favourite will become clearer but all in all it doesn’t matter: Both books are entertaining and wonderfully funny and although they both have some flaws it’s probably best to just enjoy their story.

[⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ sel ་༘࿐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so hooked with this story that I got genuinely disappointed that it ended, and there are no extras to munch in this final volume! Only a bonus story. So instead of rating it immediately, I searched through a lot of forums for some other extras and there really were some. I found the Mid-Autumn 2025 extras and dare I say, I enjoyed the mystery and the flirtatious banter between Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu as traveling husband and wife, but it lowkey still felt unsatisfying. I wanted to see more from them! Especially with some domestic elements but maybe Meng Xi Shi wanted to preserve their being-at-each-other's-throat dynamic. That tension is, after all, part of their core.

Anyway, I was so invested with the story that I finished this volume in less than a day. I was so excited with everything that's happening. I feel like a child getting giddy with the plethora of events. It was so good! And I also cried a lot. I don't condone the things that Xiao Lu, Yuwen Yihuan, and Kuhezhen have done but, I understand where they're coming from. Their deaths really made me sad, especially Xiao Lu. As I've said before, he is as amazing as Cui Buqu. Another brilliant mind, another man shaped by darkness, another who might have stood in the light under different circumstances. It's such a pity that he died in the darkness. I'M REALLY SO SAD.

[ “If you die, I will dig up your grave and scatter your bones. I will ensure your soul cannot rest and will never reincarnate.” —Feng Xiao ]
[ “To live and see you again is a wonderful thing.” —Cui Buqu ]

Moving to our FengCui, they're really so entertaining! They lie, deflect, taunt, and bait each other endlessly, needing extreme circumstances just to admit even fragments of truth. Their insults are affectionate, their denials transparent. It's intimacy disguised as warfare. They're lowkey frustrating and funny at the same time. They're both freaks who revel at the act of bickering, taunting, and setting traps for each other, and that's exactly why they work. The bonus stories, sparse as they are, reassure me that they'll continue like this for years: still scheming, still circling, still choosing each other in their own twisted way.

And of course, my favorite character is Cui Buqu. He's so dazzling to me. This is also probably why I also like Xiao Lu so much. They're two sides of the same coin, they just have different causes that make them move. Cui Buqu is a very outstanding character and I love the fact that he never really got better fully. We always get this fairytale-like endings where the sickly character suddenly heals for the rest of his life, and I would really hate this book if it comes to that. Cui Buqu's charm also comes from him being sickly and yet being able to carry half the weight of the whole nation upon his shoulders. And him being cured would also deprive one of Feng Xiao's life goal of ensuring his Ququ's survival for a whole lifetime. His desire to "keep watch," to ensure his Ququ's survival, reads less like possessiveness and more like devotion disguised as arrogance. I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THAT. I love, love them so much, I will never shut up about them! I really want more, aaa!

[⋆ forest ˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘾𝙪𝙞 𝘽𝙪𝙦𝙪,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙮. “𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨: 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙜!” 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝘾𝙪𝙞 𝘽𝙪𝙦𝙪 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚. 𝙁𝙚𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙞𝙖𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝘾𝙪𝙞 𝘽𝙪𝙦𝙪 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚: 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙮. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤’𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙚. “𝙏𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜,” 𝘾𝙪𝙞 𝘽𝙪𝙦𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙. 𝙁𝙚𝙣𝙜 𝙓𝙞𝙖𝙤’𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙.

yeah so fengcui is definitely a top 5 favorite couple of mine. they match each others freak so perfectly. i’m happy they found each other 😭🫶

𖦹 court politics
𖦹 rivals to lovers
𖦹 bickering as flirting
𖦹 chronically ill mc
𖦹 villain w/ limb difference
𖦹 high stakes

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this ended pretty solidly. I'm not gonna lie, the plot lines felt completely out of what the previous ones in the series did but i still enjoyed it. I'm glad he became bald in the most in character way 4.75⭐️

[Sepiaafterhours · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cui Buqu, I like you. If you live, I’ll deign to stay by your side for a lifetime. If you die, even if the Zuoyue Bureau buries you, I will dig up your grave and scatter your bones. I will ensure your soul cannot rest and will never reincarnate.”

i had to physically stop myself from finishing this series, but I couldn't because honestly I'm genuinely in love with it.😭

this series has everything I like starting from murder mystery, slow-burn, banters etc.🙂‍↕️

i wanted more and more of fengcui, it has no smut, but honestly everytime the characters come close, you can feel that deep intimacy.😩🤌

meng xi shi I'm indebted to you for writing such a beautiful series that I couldn't even stop devouring it.😭

it was so plot-driven too with so many twists and turns and lots of things happening in background.🤌😩
but our fengcui still shone through.
alas everything comes to an end, but honestly I wouldn't have mind more of this at all.

[Nel · Rating 4 out of 5]

To live and see you again is a wonderful thing.

The last volume is probably the weakest of them all, so my rating refers to the novel overall.

[nergoraths · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To live and see you again is a wonderful thing".

I feel empty after finally finishing this series. Meng Xi Shi is really a surprising author; her prose is absolutely mesmerizing and it's very easy for her to draw you into her multi-dimensional wuxia universe.

I found Cui Buqu/Feng Xiao even more enjoyable than their predecessors (Shen Qiao/Yan Wushi - Thousand Autumns), all the way through the end. The banter and intricate mind games, kept me glued to the pages and even if MXS doesn't explicitly expand on their newly formed relationship, it feels genuine and the only logical conclusion. Cui Buqu initiating a kiss out of sheer anger at Feng Xiao's antics was the "food" I was looking for.

I thought that the final arc, where the plots all unravel, satisfactory. I would probably not introduce two new villains but I agree it ties in all the loose ends on palace intrigues.

Overall, I am happy to declare another MXS victory and put it up there in my favorites!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(review for all volume´s, no spoilers, the rating is for the entire story.)
If I had to rate it based on entertainment alone, the story would easily get a 5 star rating. It's well written and has witty humor.
An ideal book for casual readers. I would recommend this book to a people looking for a light read, that doesn't require more thinking or understanding.

So why only three stars?

- because i am not casual reader and this work is more of a step back into the pond of mediocrity and superficiality for the author. A good story, but too commercial.

Thousand Autumns and Peerless are well-known works in danmei circles that are linked by the name of the author Meng Xi Shi (who according to information, has been active for more than two decades and has more than twenty books of various genres). Prequel and sequel. So I hope you will excuse me for comparing these two works in my longer review.

This is prime example that if you write a book you have to know what kind of readership will read it: it may be likeable for the masses but then it will lose its artistic value OR with literary value but the work will be difficult to understand for the average reader. This author wrote both. Wherethis is the former and Thousand Autumns is the latter. Question is do you want soul or body?

In previous work author wrote a very spiritual even religious work with a provocative ethical moral conflict anchored in a historical setting mixed with genre called wuxia. Heavily influenced by philosophy of Lao Tzu and have an effort to find equilibrium between two different views of human nature. In this work the author played too much on safety to please the readers with good banter and easy mystery-plot. The characters are quite interesting, the plot moves mostly forward as it should. But nothing that would stimulate my critical thinking and arouse emotions in me. The way the couple bullied other people, especially their subordinate, left me with a little bitter taste. Not to mention that some of the interactions were too bizarre and made it feel too corny, force and cartoonish.

I really enjoyed the MC personality. But as for the ML character design - i can not help but it felt somewhat recycled from Thousand Autumns. But for no reason - Yan Wushi was created as a construct of the opposite ideology to SQ purity - as a villain, a challenger, tempter and finally a lover and partner. Moreover, YW's age and life experiences and his inner very complex and well portraited belief in "every person have evil in heart" gave him depth and certain sense even in his most cruel actions, while Feng Xiao's personality lacks this depth and make him just annyoing ass*hole for entertainment purpose only.

Both works suffer from the same shortcomings - repetition, sometimes too confusing, problem with pacing and throwing random shenanigans into the story for a shocking and funny effect, even though both works would definitely feel more polished without it. And not to forget racist undertone - darker skin = ugly.

As for the romance, the relationship has a similar pace as in Thousand Autumns, which in the end leads to it being dragging more than was necessary. By this I mean that something that works for one work may not for other. One party in particular, his reluctance to admit his feelings, was annoying to me. The advantage of the author's work is that the love between a couple is created without greater passion and high emotions, which gives a sense of reality and stability.

Writing - Poetic descriptions of nature were replaced by more ordinary expressions fitting the overall vibe. Peerless showed us the opposite world of jianghu more grounded with ordinary people (not so much lofty ideals or aloof characters). Less formal and more straightforward. Which is not bad on the contrary I think it suited more to the comedic unserious tone of this story.

But in my opinion, betting on safety with easy funny story shouldn't be valued as much as effort for more provocative influential work, that forces readers to ponder about human nature and morality. After all, Bridget Jones can be my favorite book, but that doesn't mean I appreciate or value it like, for example, Anna Karenina. I know, I know, people these days want shallow fast plots and witty banter, light entertainment - Marvel's popularity is an example. But it's films like Moonlight that win critics' awards for important reasons.

For me this is another sad example of when one tries to satisfy a mediocre crowd with trivial story, only rather inferior type of work can be produce.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished my first wuxia series! Overall I had a really good time with these books, though I do think books 2 and 3 are stronger than the rest of the series. This one has a very dramatic and satisfying action sequence at the end with plots, secret mazes, poison, traps, imposters, and more. Cui Buqu has to face down, and also ally with, the leader of the Thirteen Floors who has been trying to take down the Emperor since before the beginning of book 1. Feng Xiao faces a martial arts opponent who is definitely his equal and might be his superior. The bickering and humor which forms the emotional heart of this story is present, but I did find myself wanting a little more emotional resolution for our two leads. They do kiss! But they don't really verbally acknowledge their mutual feelings or get much of a soft moment or a honeymoon trip or anything like that at the end. I'll have to head to fanfiction for that!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad it’s over.

[Alastair · Rating 5 out of 5]

For once I won't include a typical "[]/5" rating, because Peerless is the only series I've ever encountered where I feel like this system just doesn't work in the slightest.

I have been waiting months for this volume and got very lucky because it was delivered to me a day prior to the official release. All it took was 6 hours on a workday (!) and boom. I feel like I'm a changed man, I will never be the same again and I'm sure nothing will ever come close to the thrill I experienced reading through this entire damn thing.

The finale has all the same issues as the previous volumes; sudden plot twists, introduction of new characters, a lot of political meddling which is handled worse than in Thousand Autumns... but it also retains the things I loved about it: the bickering, the tender moments, the hilarious bits & the wonderful dynamics between the reoccuring characters.

Is this the best danmei I've ever read? No, I can think of multiple better written ones, to be frank. But is it my personal favorite? 100%. When it comes to the core 'charm', Meng Xi Shi really outdid herself and the only thing that pains me is that we didn't get a special edition; I would've bought it in a heartbeat.

In conclusion: if you've even read that far, you will probably love the finale, too. Peerless is a very unique treat and not everyone will like it, but I've fallen head over heels for it and nothing else can compare. This is an incredibly biased opinion. A million stars. Multiple awards. If MXS doesn't have any fans, then I'm Dead.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY IS IT OVER??

Cui Buqu, why can’t you have 50 extras like all the other danmeis? There’s never enough time!

Also, bald Feng Xiao was not on my bingo card for this year. What a welcome surprise.

[natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s bald! And he’s torturing people who have hair!

Joke aside: I’m not being hyperbolic when I say this book restored something in me. I’ve genuinely been worried that my love for reading was fading, because even books I’ve rated highly lately have taken me so much longer than they should to finish. This one has been the exception. The only reason I didn’t stay up until 3 a.m. to finish it was that I quite literally have a job, and I needed at least some sleep to function.

I wish I could attach a photo of my copy, because the number of sticky tabs I’ve added is genuinely absurd.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having concluded the grain fraud case and sent the leader of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai packing (at least for now), Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao make their way back to the capital. However, they're briefly waylaid by a massacre of an entire lord's household -- the son of whom was a member of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai. Before they can dig into the case though, an urgent message from the capital sends the pair racing back. What awaits them there, though, is an increasingly worsening set of calamities and attacks, but the mastermind behind them is unclear (although they're certain the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai are at least collaborators). Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu will have to put their wits together and combine the full force of both their organizations if they have any hope of stopping this plot from overturning the entire kingdom.

The conclusion of the "Peerless" series starts off relatively calm, then quickly picks up speed and hardly ever slows down. Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu are pulled in all directions as they contend with several suspects and pawns, plus the worsening reputation of the emperor. That doesn't stop the banter between the pair though, which I ate up. My only gripe is with the epilogues; the first two should have been kept as part of the main story since they act as the resolution (seeing "End of Main Story" where the author placed it felt pretty abrupt, personally); and as for the others, I thought they were a little boring and didn't really add anything. What I really wanted was a little more focus on the relationship between Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao. The author fed a teeny, tiny bit, but it was brief and in passing and nowhere near enough. I didn't need lovey-dovey fluff, but it would've been nice to see Cui Buqu meet Feng Xiao in the middle and show a smidge more affection. Nevertheless, this was one of the better endings to a danmei series that I've read in a while -- the author redeemed herself after the mess that was the ending to "Thousand Autumns"!

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nanana muy bueno!! Me urge hacer un ranking de los danmeis que leí para saber en que puesto poner a esta locura.
Esto es un verdadero enemist to lovers!! y sino lo creen asi al menos coincidirán que es un rivals to lovers. Pero para mi es 100% un enemist to lovers.
Los personajes son increíbles, tiene personalidad tienen un transfondo, unos más que otros, además de ser muy carismáticos. Yo los amo y los voy a bancar siempre.
De los 5 Vol no hubo uno que me disgurara, si hubo algunos medios que me trabe en avanzar pero fue cosa mia no tanto del libro en sí.
Feng Xiao y Cui Buqu son mis protegidos ellos no necesitan que les haga toda una larga lista de pros y contra porque durante todas las reseñas ya di mi muy sesgada opinión, son unos genios y no quisiera que cambien nunca.
Lo único que le falto a este danmei fue unos cameos, yo realmente quería esos cameos.
Toda la trama fue genial y la resolución me gusto, para mi quedó algunas cosas que quedaron abiertas pero ni idea de lo que pasará con eso tampoco es algo muy importante realmente.
Voy a extrañar a este par, realmente se ganaron mi corazón!!

[colagatji · Rating 5 out of 5]

dear friends,

if you are considering dipping your toes in the vast plateau of danmei for quite some time
and you are unsure where to start
or maybe want to start somewhere different than the top 5 most popular stories

and

if you want the best danmei has to offer;
action, adventure, political shenanigans, vibrant cast of characters, slowest slow burn you can imagine and two idiots at odds cracking jokes at each other all the time

this is the story for you

also

in my personal opinion

this is the best rivals to lovers i have ever encountered

what best about it is that their rivalry is never ill intended or angsty in anyway
its always well mannered but quick witted and always hilarious in some ways
it also takes a whole lot of time for them to even recognize each other as worthy rivals not to mention to face off any kind of other feelings that slowly started to build during their crazy adventures

truthfully a peak of this genre

absolutely loved every second of it and how i wish there was even more ;_:
it's so hard to say goodbye after such a joyful time

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 5 of Peerless ends the story of two imperial agents, Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, from competing agencies in Sui dynasty China. They’ve been on a trail of a secret organisation the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai, and have managed to reduce their numbers to only the leader, Xiao Lü.

The last volume continues from where the previous one left, the aftermath of government officials swindling flood aid. Both men are in poor health, Cui Buqu for his chronic illness and Feng Xiao for his battle with Xiao Lü. But they’re called back to the capital and must haste there. Xiao Lü is ready for his final move and he has new allies with a horrible weapon that causes people to hallucinate and kill each other. To defeat him, both men come close to ruin and death.

This has been a great series. The investigation has been all over the place and at times impossible to comprehend, but the enemies to lovers story of Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao has been absolutely delightful to follow. But the last book wasn’t nearly as good. Too much space was given to unimportant characters and their points of view. Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao worked in the background, and the reader wasn’t privy to their investigations and cleverness until everything was set for the final confrontation. It made for a very unsatisfying and even boring read. Not even the final battle brought a completely satisfying ending.

The love story at least had its moments. There were kisses, jealousy, and attempts to wring confessions from each other. But the story ends kind of mid-scene without proper resolution to the romance, and the several epilogues and a bonus story merely continue with the hunt of the Thirteen Floors and doesn’t really bring anything new to the romance. Definitely no happily ever after moments, or a glimpse to the men’s future.

Overall though, I’m left happy with the series. I can imagine the men continuing as they’ve been, bickering, scheming and one-upping each other in public and loving each other in secret. Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao will definitely remain one of my favourite danmei couples.

[iz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so silly that Feng Xiao had a whole short story about his journey with his hair growing. I definitely will miss Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, they were so cute and funny together.

[goblin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE THEM. i want to be their third. i mean i want to stand and watch.