After returning from the north, the Department of Exorcism is no sooner reunited in Chang'an than a series of strange cases strikes the capital. Vicious ghosts have appeared in the imperial mausoleums, slaughtering the guards who protect the remains of former emperors. Whether the attacks are a true haunting, the yao king at work, or the plot of a sinister new enemy, the exorcists must discover the truth before another catastrophe befalls the nation.
Meanwhile, although Hongjun and Li Jinglong have taken a step forward in their relationship, Hongjun continues to be plagued by anxieties. One entity may be able to answer his the divine kun, a powerful yao with the ability to see the future. But the kun is missing, and the yao king—or his agents—may hold the only clues to his mysterious disappearance.
This danmei series is increasingly testing my patience, yet my love for it remains unwavering. The latest volume is packed with so many twists and turns that my emotions swung wildly, but I can confidently say I enjoyed it more than Volume 3. The classic miscommunication trope is still very much present and drags on throughout the entire volume, but I was able to overlook it because the volume offered more moments of joy than frustration.
As we delve deeper into the story, the plot's tone becomes progressively more serious, and each new revelation heightens my anxiety and anticipation for what’s to come.
Hongjung's characterization in this volume truly made me realize that he is somewhat naive and lacking in common sense, but that's perfectly fine since Li Jinglong is quite fond of his innocence. Hongjung is naive, often clumsy, and young, which at times tests my patience, but I still find him somewhat endearing. Still, I can't wait for him to grow and mature.
Li Jinglong undeniably stands out as the most romantic love interest in this story. His demeanor is incredibly sweet and tender towards Hongjung. He exhibits remarkable intelligence, and the way his plans are always so on point and work out easily, exactly as he planned, makes him seem almost perfect in the story. While he is not, he comes remarkably close, and his romantic gestures and caring nature truly shine.
Mergen faces a series of internal and external struggles in this volume. He initially believed that the white deer was a woman, and when that turned out not to be the case, he was left feeling confused and uncertain about his own feelings. Despite his good heart and desire to do right by Lu Xu, he frequently puts his foot in his mouth, leading to awkward and tense moments. His development in this volume hints at a deeper internal conflict and a growth potential.
Lu Xu remains my favorite character by far. His personality perfectly matches my own preferences. His cold, aloof exterior and his tendency to act as if he doesn't care about Mergen because he's hurt emotionally only make him more intriguing. I appreciate characters with a bit of pride and a complex emotional layer. I also enjoy how he keeps Mergen on his toes, making him earn his heart through effort and persistence. Because of his emotional scars, Lu Xu is not quick to forgive or forget, which adds to his depth and realism.
The relationship between Hongjung and Li Jinglong is both sweet and heartwarming. Having just entered a fully established relationship, they already behave like a married couple, exhibiting tenderness and care in their interactions. The love they share is expressed with such intensity and sincerity that it truly warms the heart and adds a beautiful depth to the story.
Meanwhile, Mergen and Lu Xu's relationship remains tumultuous and uncertain. They tend to avoid addressing the difficult questions that threaten their bond, choosing instead to bury their heads in the sand. However, there are signs of progress—Mergen begins to realize he doesn't truly understand Lu Xu and that sincere effort is necessary if he wants a meaningful relationship. Similarly, Lu Xu is slowly coming to terms with his feelings for Mergen. Their evolving relationship is the one I find most compelling and exciting.
Supporting characters A-Tai and Qiu Yongsi continue to enrich the story, with Qiu Yongsi standing out as especially intriguing. I’m eagerly looking forward to learning more about him and his role in the unfolding narrative.
In conclusion, this volume was more enjoyable than Volume 3, despite the frustrations it caused. I am eagerly awaiting the release of Volume 5 to see what happens next.
the cover for this is phenomenal. i'm in love with the art for all the volumes of this and it's truly the definition of art-bait... every now and then, i wish i had the physical copies for this danmei just to admire the covers. i love ruthie's art sooo much 😌😌
(i showed two of my friends this cover when it got revealed and they said it looks like a basic webtoon cover. but.)
Amoooo releer a mis favs😭🤍 -Mi familia, este vol. por ahora es de mis favs, mas contenido de todos, cada vez se pone peor el desmadre y caos😭 -El capitulo 97🥵🥵🥵 -morigen y luxu mi ship y su relación toxica y caotica jajaja😭 -la vision de Hongjun 🤍🥹 -LOS ARTES TODS HERMOSOS AMOOOOOO
volume 4 of legend of exorcisim is unfortunately, not as good as its predecessor, but still good regardless.
our team are back in the capital and trying to uncover the traitors hiding in the emperor's court, while dealing with new and old yao and their nefarious plans.
this volume gives us li jinglong and hongjun's developing romance and relationship - these two really are the cutest together. love how sweet they are with their flirting and banter, and it still works with the high-stakes plot going on.
we also get mergen and lu xu and whatever it is that they have. look... its complicated, so complicated. and I love lu xu and I love mergen and I genuinely feel bad for both of them. especially towards the end, when mergen is being put through the wringer and his fate currently unknown till the next volume.
like i said, I didn’t quite love this volume like I did vol 3. I can't really explain it, but the plot felt all over the place from around halfway through; either following longjun in their adventure, or back in the capital with the rest of the gang. and this split pov did not work too well for me. other than that, it was great.
we finally got the li jinglong love confession and it was so sweet omg. the most enjoyable parts of this book was them being in love. i know the road ahead will be hardships, but i can’t wait for their future happiness.
mergen irritated me a little in this one i genuinely wished he’d just realize his attraction for lu xu already. they make me crazy, so i’m just a bit impatient.
i started to suspect qiu yongsi in this one and i didn’t have any valid reason at first, but he seems so suspicious now… idk of what, but i’m dying to know
now i have to wait until april :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
we are back to the mood I LOVED in book 1 and 2 - the witty funny parts but also the serious questions of life and death. i have only one thing to say: what's with Mergen? please tell me he is okay?