Thousand Autumns. Buch 4: Tödliches Spiel | Die chinesische Boys Love endlich auf Deutsch! (Qian Qiu)

Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) #4

by Meng Xi Shi, Babsi Schwarz (Translator)

Band 4 des chinesischen Light Novel-Bestsellers und TikTok-Erfolg Thousand Autumns von Meng Xi Erstmals auf Deutsch in einer hochwertigen Ausstattung mit beigelegter Charakterkarte und wunderschönen Innenillustrationen!

Unheil naht und ein Blutbad steht bevor!
Nachdem er Yuwen Song aus dem vom Krieg zerrütteten Chang'an gerettet hat, hilft Shen Qiao ihm, ein neues Leben in der Bixia-Schule zu beginnen. Doch keine gute Tat bleibt ungesühnt und es dauert nicht lange, bis Shen Qiaos eigener skrupelloser Dämonenkönig, Yan Wushi, auf den Plan gerufen wird. Währenddessen beginnen die Vorbereitungen für die nächsten Schwertprüfungen und jeder der Bixia-Schule hofft auf die Chance, Ehre, Prestige und einen Aufstieg innerhalb der Ränge zu erlangen. 
Doch nicht jeder dort hegt ehrenhafte Absichten. Im Schutze der Nacht wird Shen Qiao vor dunklen Mächten gewarnt, die die Prüfungen in ein Blutbad zu verwandeln drohen! Werden Yan Wushi und Shen Qiao die Gefahren unbeschadet überstehen? Eine schicksalhafte Schlacht steht bevor!

Die BookTok-Sensation »Thousand Autumns« von Meng Xi Shi ist der perfekte Einstieg in das Genre der chinesischen Boys Love / Danmei. In dieser epischen Fantasy Light Novel, die mit hochwertigen Illustrationen und Charakterzeichnungen zu Leben erwacht, trifft der moralisch graue Meister, der gerissene Anführer und mächtiger Großmeister des dämonischen Pfades, auf den bescheidenen Anführer, der an das Gute im Menschen glaubt. Noch ahnt der dämonische Meister nicht, dass er auf die erste unnachgiebige Kraft seines Lebens gestoßen ist, und dass auch sein verdorbenes Herz nicht vor der sanften Seite seines neuen Schülers gewahrt bleibt.

Ein absolutes Must-Have für alle Fans von Mo Xiang Tong Xius Light Novel The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation und Heaven Officials Blessing sowie alle Leser*innen, deren Herzen bei Boys Love- und Wuxia-Geschichten höher schlagen!

Diese Tropes erwarten

Enemies to LoversMorally Grey CharactersGrumpy x SunshineSlow Burn RomanceBoys LoveEvery Villain needs a HeroOpposites AttractActionreich, emotional und voller unerwarteter Die Danmei-Wuxia-Sensation jetzt in 5 Bänden erstmals auf Deutsch erhältlich.

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

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

About the author

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

Reviews

[Brigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yan Wushi decided that he and Shen Qiao are married. The problem is that he forgot to tell Shen Qiao about it xD

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For once in an enemies to lovers story, the protagonist does NOT look at the hot demonic love interest and gets the most random inappropriate thoughts or experiences some sort of unprecedented burning desire.

In fact, Shen Qiao cannot be bothered with Yan Wushi and has no eyes for him anymore AHAHAHA.


Let the era of Yan Wushi pining commence! May he need to overcome insurmountable challenges and sacrifices to earn a lick of A-Qiao's trust, which he himself has squandered in the first place.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 'Yan Wushi wooing his A-Qiao' stars



I've been waiting for 3 volumes for Yan Wushi to finally realize his feelings and I finally got it. Well, we didn't get any groveling (as we should!!) but honestly, I don't think Wushi is even capable of that 😆 and Shen Qiao probably wouldn't even want him to.

Yan Wushi blinked at him. "My good A-Qiao, are you worried about my venerable self?"
Though his face didn't reveal his age, this man was already past forty, and he was still trying to act cute. It was really...
Too shameless.

my gif

I really enjoyed reading about their time together. Yan Wushi is still his annoying self from the beginning but now he's genuinly trying to get to Shen Qiao's good side. As for our pure-hearted Daoist, as I already said in one of my previous reviews, I'm sure he likes - at least a little - Yan Wushi's attention. I mean, he doesn't take shit from anyone else. He could just leave Wushi if he really wanted to. And if he thinks he can't, that's becuase, he doesn't really want to leave.

Yan Wushi grabbed Shen Qiao's hand without waiting for his answer. [...] Shen Qiao was unable to pull his hand back. "... You act like I'm not going. What are you doing, Yan Zongzhu?"
"A-Qiao, have you never heard of 'walking arm in arm?"
"That's reserved only for the closest of friends!"
Yan Wushi looked dismayed. "Are we not the closest of friends?"
[...]
"How many people in this world have shared as many life-and-death experience as we have? Don't you feel extremely honored to have someone as charming as my venerable self as your friend?"
"Can I say no?" asked Shen Qiao.
"No," said Yan Wushi.

Fanart by ertroveria

He couldn't help but raise his head, just in time to see Yan Wushi's head drop low as he coughed up blood.
Shen Qiao's face contorted in horror. All else flew from his mind as he hurriedly leapt up to support him. "What's wrong? Was the wine poisoned?!"
[...]
Yan Wushi suddenly smiled and pulled him into his arms. "Your panic reveals your concern. A-Qiao, your words truly don't match your heart!"
Shen Qiao stared at him. "You... you weren't poisoned?"
Yan Wushi wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his lips and said, "I accidentally bit my lip while chewing."

Official art by MiMo
Colored by cutelilbitch

Just look at them, they are so cute together 😍🥰 Also, I didn't expect to see Yan Wushi so far gone for Shen Qiao. My man here is reciting poetry in his head about a-Qiao's beauty 😌

The sun's rays spilled down, shining through the gape leaves and dappling Shen Qiao's body. Even the contours of his cheeks and neck seemed to be cast in a delicate and soft glow. Beholding this scene made a one's heart itch to pick up this beauty and bring him home to hide him there like a treasure, so that in the future, only they'd be privy to seeing him.

my gif

And is this a love conffesion?? *swoon* I want for Yan Wushi to suffer some more before Shen Qiao accepts his feeling but I'm still immensly happy we are going forward in their relationship.

"I know you bear many grudges against me dure to what happened in the past," Yan Wushi went on, "but toward you, my heart has already changed completely. As the saying goes, given enough time, one can see someone' s true feelings. Haven't you realized it as well?"
Shen Qiao calmed his breathing and said coldly, "I have never seen Yan Zongzhu's heart before. How should I know whether your heart's changed completely?"
Yan Wushi grabbed his hand and brought it to his own heart. He said softly, "If you don't belive me, you can dig it out and see for yourself, then you'll know. From today onward, this is all yours."

my gif

Truly, I was so excited everytime they were acting domestic. They already spend so much time together and it shows how comfortable they are around each other, even if they haven't realize this in full.



my gif

This volume is shorter compared to others, so I have a feeling not much has happened here. Apart from yanshen bickering like old married couple, there were also a lot of fighting scenes, which are always amazingly described. Bow down to Meng Xi Shi. Ok, this next quote is not about fighting but of course, jianghu martial artist are always ready to fight.

"So you must be Huanyue Yan Zongzhu."
Yan Wushi raised an eyebrow. "You recognize this venerable one?"
"Mm," said Li Qingyu. "Rumor say that Huanyue Zongzhu's egoism is unmatched in thr world. Seeing you today, I can tell that it's well-deserved reputation."

We also got to meet a new/old charachter that finally appeared. I think this one is the toughest "villain" so far and it seems he will cause a lot of troubles to our heroes.

"You are greatly talented, but you are not my match yet. If you'd had another three to five years, you might have been able to fight me. But since you killed Kunye, I cannot let you leave this mountain alive now that I have met you today." Hulugu's face was indifferent, but his words suggested that he was already grasping Shen Qiao's life in his hands.
Shen Qiao smiled and replied with a single word: "Really?"

my gif

I just love his 'really?' here! He's spending too much time with Yan Wushi and it shows, haha. But seriously, Shen Qiao deserve the arrogance. He might not be no. 1 in jianghu but I'm sure he fought the most battles half-dead and all other martial artists who fight only when they are sure of their victory can lick his boots. (Ok, random thought just now but was there a reason that they gave the sluttiest boots in donghua to a-Qiao? I mean, of course everyone wants to fuck him. Just look at the man!)

He was a disciple of Qi Fengge, and from the moment he'd taken over his shizun's mantle, his destiny had been set: this battle was inevitable.

my gif

I didn't know where to put this quote but I just had to add it.

"This is someone who belongs to my venerable self, and you think you can kill him as you please?"

Yan Wushi 🤝 Mo Ran
only I can kill this man
(I think they could be casual friends who never talk to each other but still meet every week to flex their muscles and boast about their better halves.)

Ok, I started to ramble so let's wrap this up with some more cute yanshen moments 😊😊

Shen Qiao didn't reply. In truth, the last fight had sapped all his strength, and he's suffered internal injuries. He was beyond exhausted. Before he could realize it, his eyes slid shut, and he fell into a deep slumber.
Yan Wushi looked down, a smile on his lips. He held the man to himself and walked steadily out of Qingcheng Town.

When he woke up, he was already lying on a bed. [...]
Before Shen Qiao could frown and expel the memories of his dream, a teasing voice came from next to his ear. "Which wonderful dream did you have that you're still savoring it after waking up?"
Only then did Shen Qiao realize something was wrong. The object he was leaning against was clearly not a pillow, but...
Yan Wushi's thigh.
He'd woken up with his head pillowed on Yan Wushi's thigh.

"If you want to talk, just talk," he said helplessly. "Can you stop putting your hand on my thigh? It's incredibly undignified."
If not for his injuries and how he was sleeping against the wall, he would havr long rolled off the bed.
Yan Wushi patted him twice nad chucckled. "Oh, so this was actually your leg. I thought it was a cushion."
He reached under the bedding and pulled out a cushion from next to Shen Qiao's leg. Then he placed his hand a top and patted it some more.

Fanart by KaZuke

And now onto the last vol. In the meantime, here's a beautiful song from Qian Qiu audio drama. Yes, I melt every time I hear Yan Wushi's voice.




4,5 'I'd say my A-Qiao but I know YWS doesn't share' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
5 'Shen Qiao must be protected at all costs' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4,5 'Yan Wushi being cute' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
4,5 'Yan Wushi wooing his A-Qiao' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
5 'yanshen in love' stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I LOVED the book, it's frustrating to see how Seven Seas is editing the story. The last book ended in such a strange place I thought maybe it was a mistake. This book does the same thing. Just a really odd place to end a book. Also, it's only 300 pages so the final book better be over 400 before the extras 😡

Meng Xi Shi writes political stories so well! Im looking forward to reading Peerless this summer when it's released. I love seeing how Shen Qiao handles (and doesn’t handle) Yan Wushi’s shamelessness. I am so intrigued to see how they end up together. Yan Wushi has some work to do!

[Linh · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are 2 things I love the most about Thousand Autumns:
1. the relationship between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi
2. the fighting

And this volume has the most of both in the series so far. 🤩 Yan Wushi courting Shen Qiao was soooo funny!!!

Not sure how to feel about there being only one more volume left. 😔 I want to read slower so I can savor it.

[thedeadlyscimitar · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having started out this series teetering the verge of giving up halfway through volume one, I am shocked by how much I’ve fallen in love with it! Though I enjoyed volume three slightly less than I did volume two, volume four was by far my favorite in the whole series thus far! This volume had it all; heart pounding action, deep political intrigue, amazing character development, stellar dialogue, great humor and compelling progression in the relationship between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi.

Unlike a few of the previous volumes, there wasn’t a single part of this one that I felt lagged in any way. I was thoroughly entertained and invested from start to finish and I honestly did not want to put this book down! I absolutely loved this part of the story! There was some wonderful character development for Shen Qiao and even Yan Wushi to a degree. I think my favorite part of this story is seeing how the two of them interact and how they have each started to influence the other for the better without ever compromising who they are as individuals.

To be perfectly honest, I still haven’t forgiven Yan Wushi for his betrayal in volume two. Considering the heinous nature of his betrayal, I’m not sure that it’s something that I ever can forgive, and that has made it very difficult for me to like him as a character. Despite that, however, I found myself very much torn between loving and hating Yan Wushi in this volume. If nothing else, there is no denying that he is a very entertaining and unique character.

This volume had a ton of great humor, and there were many moments that had me quite literally laughing out loud. Most of these moments arose due to Yan Wushi’s antics and teasing towards Shen Qiao. So much of the dialogue between these two is truly brilliant! There were so many times where I found myself simultaneously shaking my head, giggling and grinning from ear to ear as I muttered to myself about what a impudent, mischievous little devil Yan Wushi can be. There were many times that I wanted to slap him, but at the same time I couldn’t help finding many of his antics endearing as well. I don’t think that I’ve ever felt so conflicted about a character before to the point where I truly don’t know whether to love or hate him. As much as I feel like I should hate him, Yan Wushi has an undeniable charm and charisma to him that I simply can’t seem to resist.

Beyond the incredible dialogue, humor and character/relationship development in this volume, the surrounding plot was also incredibly engrossing. For me, this volume was a perfect mix of action and political intrigue. Some crazy stuff went down in this volume that I’m definitely not going to spoil for anyone reading this review. Needless to say, there was one development in particular that I did not see coming at all, and I am incredibly curious to see where it leads in the next volume. I loved the combination of jianghu and court politics and how the two separate spheres interacted and influenced one another. This story is truly complex and so fascinating to read! At this point, I am absolutely in love! This is shaping up to be one of my favorite danmei! I’m both excited to find out how this story ends and sad that the next volume is the final one!

[ana ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

me thinks this volume was lowkey boring and mid. this venerable one is upset. there is no hope for yan wushi

[Natalya Voronina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the book, it's baby's first wuxia, and I'm having so much fun with it. This volume was somehow especially tropey in that way: all the flying cups etc.
But somehow almost the least interesting thing for me (weirdly enough for danmei) is romance. I don't know what to say 🤷‍♀️ I'm still not sold. I'm cackling every time Shen Qiao wants to deck Yan Wushi. At the same time I like YWS's changing sentiments, I just don't want SQ to give in.
Anyway, I have some miles ahead before I need to decide. I really want to love them.

[Queens Love Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you like someone, must you say a reason? It’s like when you hate someone to the point that their face fills you with disgust, but you can’t say why. Isn’t that the same thing? Just because I enjoy teasing you doesn’t mean you can treat my sincerity as fake. My heart won’t be able to take it.”



Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi’s chaotic dance of idealism vs. cynicism keeps shining in Thousand Autumns Vol. 4. Shen Qiao’s moral compass is as steady as ever, while Yan Wushi continues to wreak elegant havoc—equal parts infuriating and fascinating.

The wuxia battles? Thrilling. The political intrigue? Deliciously tangled. The philosophical debates? Well, they’re a bit dense but add a certain intellectual flair if you're into that. The moral gray zones and character complexity make up for a few meandering subplots.

This volume might not top the earlier ones, but it’s still a gripping mix of action, drama, and the ever-entertaining push and pull between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi. Perfect for fans who love their wuxia with a side of moral dilemmas and sharp banter!

Date Read: 2024.05.07
Re-read: 2024.11.11

[kay! ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

can’t formulate a proper review right now BECAUSE I NEED TO READ THE NEXT VOLUME ASAP

(plot? still not my favorite oops…the characters however…🤌🏻 amazing 10/10 i love love love yanqiao,,,but i specifically want to put yan wushi in a glass jar and violently shake it. he needs to be studied. under a microscope. in a lab. what is going on inside that old man brain of his?????)

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

Rereading Volume 4 felt like a slow, aching unraveling, and then, a quiet bloom. It’s the volume where the emotional weight that’s been building finally cracks open, exposing raw grief, longing, and hard-earned growth. Every page felt like being pulled further into the gravity of Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi’s story. And I could only do nothing but follow.

Finally, finally! Yan Wushi finally admits to himself that he loves Shen Qiao. And yes, he confesses, but not without consequences. Shen Qiao no longer trusts him, and rightfully so. He dug his own grave and now he walks it alone. But Yan Wushi is still himself: cruel, shameless, and unapologetic. He doesn’t regret what he did in the past, yet his desire to pursue Shen Qiao wholeheartedly is so real, so palpable, that you can’t help but ache with him, but also think at the same time that he deserves the cold shoulder. But that's just so Yan Wushi.

And Shen Qiao... what can I even say that does him justice? He’s still him: calm, kind, principled. Despite everything, he harbors no hatred. He grieves what he lost, but carries it with dignity. He recognizes Yan Wushi’s brilliance, no matter how impossible the man can be. And he’ll never admit to weeping over Yan Wushi’s retreating back, because he knows the other man’s nature. That quiet restraint is what makes Shen Qiao so soul-crushingly beautiful. He is magnanimous in a way few characters ever are.

Their dynamic in this volume is excruciatingly good: one man reaching out too late, the other too hurt to accept it, and yet, there’s still something lingering. An unspoken thread between them. Yan Wushi tried to destroy Shen Qiao’s belief in human goodness, and ended up falling for it instead. I say, deserve!

I believe one of the most notable parts for me is when Yan Wushi reflected that: "Those various trials had been no more than a whetstone to Shen Qiao—they’d slowly ground away all the rock concealing the lovely jade within." Shen Qiao doesn’t change to survive. He endures as himself. And he shines, even after everything.

And I also really love how Shen Qiao is finally being recognized by the world. For his strength. For his wisdom. For his character. People are beginning to see not just the once defeated sect leader, but the person he is: deeply principled, endlessly compassionate, and unshakably true to his path. After all the hardship, after all the betrayal and dismissal, he deserves every word of praise and reverence. It’s what he never asked for but fully deserves.

And ALL of this unfolds within a rich, ever-twisting plot full of power struggles, philosophical depth, and heart-stopping moments. The stakes are high, the writing is brilliant, and the emotional payoff is as sharp as a blade. I so love Qian Qiu!

Anyway, moving away from the serious things, Shen Qiao picking up lost children like side quests will never stop being my favorite thing. He doesn’t just protect the world, he becomes a haven within it. I'm so crying! Also, Hulugu, what do you mean, "It’d been over twenty years, yet the three characters “Qi Fengge” had never faded from his heart, becoming a complex knot he could never unravel." ? What do you mean your heart softened when you saw your deceased archnemesis's sword? What do you mean?! That's so gay.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Cod.
After finishing this book, my brain just comes back to one thought pattern over and over: “Yan Wushi??! What the heck!? Yan Wushi!!!? What the HECK?!??” This entire book had me on pins and needles, from Yan Wushi’s “playful” antics to Shen Qiao’s brush with certain death. (I’m SO proud of Shen Qiao, he’s come so far and he did SO good during that fight! ) I started reading and simply could NOT put it down. Very curious about how on EARTH Shen Qiao will realize his feelings for Yan Wushi. (Seriously, what was Yan Wushi thinking?!) what could possibly get Shen Qiao to admit his fondness for Yan Wushi now? Can’t wait to see what the pivot point will be!
(Also, the spoon fight was absolutely 10/10. Fell out of my chair laughing. I love all of their cat fights, but this one was definitely my favorite. And Shen Qiao’s rage afterwards? Perfection. I absolutely love Shen Qiao, he may very well be my favorite cinnamon roll of all time.)

And is it just me, or is there a peculiar ambiguity to Shen Qiao’s reactions now?

[Demian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to love this novel so much that it even made me stop and pace around my room after the first 20ish chapters.

Thousand Autumns is my first Meng Xi Shi novel and it definitely won't be last. I felt like I was living in this universe while reading her depictions of important places like Xuandushan, Huanye Sect, Chang'an... Every characters she introduced more or less had a backstory and they did not felt like they were out-of-place some cannon fodders. From Shen Qiao to Bian Yanmei and Yang Jian, they all had a firm presence throughout the book even though you don't see some of them too much. I absolulety love reading plot-driven novels and slowly dissecting their pieces and Qian Qiu was a perfect material for that. Historically accurate events were refreshing to read.

The slowburn romance was realistic considering the shen qiao's trial and tribulations until the end. The fact that the both shen qiao and yan wushi have consistency in their actions and have strong personalities made their relationship even more interesting. Because they don't actually shout out their love to each other but instead they choose to show through actions. some may disagree but I believe that yan wushi understands shen qiao more than shen qiao understands the old man. I also think that he knows that after betraying shen qiao over and over again, just simply saying "sorry" will not change their relationship overnight. we can see both in yu ai and chen gong's cases when they apologized to shen qiao, his attitude towards them was the same but he clearly put a distance between himself and others. yan wushi's apology was finding the last scroll of the book that will help shen qiao cultivate better and divert hulugu's attention on himself so that the latter can focus on his sect's matter without worrying about possible enemies. I think it fitted his overall personality, because he favors actions over words and shen qiao would prefer it that way.

After reading the novel, now I kind of want to lead a secluded life with my close friends without worrying about the secular world :) I will read again this masterpiece in the future.

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

تمام چیزی که من از enemies to lovers میخوام همینه. هنوزم ناراحتم که بدون دانش کافی اومدم سراغ این ناول و در قصد اولیه‌ام که رمنس ساده و بوجی‌بوجی فراوان بود ناکام موندم. ولی واقعا همه چیز تمیز و مرتب داره جلو میره. اصن عجله‌ای توی شکل گرفتن علاقه بین کسایی که چنان رابطه پیچیده‌ای داشتن نیست -واقعا هم با گندی که مردک بی‌عرضه زد حقشه که تا آخر داستان در حسرت باشه- و همه چیز اروم اروم داره شکل میگیره و این در کنار این پلات پر از پیچ و تاب و جذاب باعث شده کل زندگیم رو رها کنم تا زودتر جلد بعدی رو هم بخونم.
حجم زیاد اکستراهای جلد بعد امیدوارم میکنه که قراره بالاخره به چیزی که از اول منتظرشم برسم⁦ ⁦(⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬)

[Anne-Marie Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Another excellent installment. Good mix of action and political intrigue. Looking forward to the final volume!

[caro (in uni hell) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will die on the hill that Shen Qiao fell first and Yan Wushi fell harder!!

I loved this volume, despite how short it was. I can definitely see why people, who haven’t read the complete novel yet, would be annoyed at them ending this volume at this point. Knowing what is about to come though, I cannot wait for the last volume to come out!!

The “cliffhanger” aside, I adore the relationship development we are getting in this volume and especially Yan Wushi reaping what he sowed by betraying Shen Qiao. (lmao) I like seeing the subtle changes in his character, the new way he behaves around Shen Qiao and the tenderness that has wormed itself into his actions as he realised how special Shen Qiao is to him. This slow process of him needing to put in effort to gain Shen Qiao’s trust back really displays how much he actually has changed his behaviour towards him and I found that very satisfying to read!!

[James 🦤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relationship so unhealthy it cancels out and they make each other into better people.

[Kate♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5stars

I just love these two so much haha their dynamic is one of my fave - Yan Wushi is just so unapologetic and Shen Qiao is so adorable. I can't wait to see how this all wraps up!!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes yes yes
I love Shen Qiao having a crisis 🤣

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate when i catch up cuz now i want more story 🤬🤬🤬🤬. This book was really fluffy tho. Have no idea how the ending is gonna play out cuz there seems to be no end in sight.

[任煦涵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He’d always believed that human nature was evil, that true goodness didn’t exist. That even if it did exist, it’d only look like weakness when he saw it.

And yet Shen Qiao was an exception. Yan Wushi who’d never compromised himself for anyone, was willing to concede a little for Shen Qiao’s sake. “

ABHHHHHHSHHHHHHHSGDHHHHHHDHHSHH PINING YAN WUSHI IS KILLING ME!

Also, Shen Qiao being speechless at his shamelessness is my favorite thing about their interactions.

Also, Shen Qiao is up there with Xie Lian with his kindness and compassion. It truly comforts me to follow him along as the mc. I suppose I just really like righteous and kind main characters!

I’ll be sad to finish this series in a few months :-(

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like these books go up and down like the tide. The story itself is interesting but sometimes the technical or philosophical parts get a little bit too much and I end up drifting a bit.
This book was better than the last a lot of the story was about the characters rather than the above.
I like that Yan Wushi is finally starting to thaw a bit and I think Shen Qiao’s reactions are funny. I love how far Shen Qiao has come and that he’s more than a match for people who are arrogant enough to assume he’s still broken.
I’m not looking forward to the wait for the last book 😭😂😂

[lily ⊹ ₊ ⁺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ ➵ 4/5 ✧

i adore how yan wushi never has a 'redemption' arc or anything like that, and that shen qiao doesn't fall hopelessly in love with him straight away. sure he loves him and wants to take care of him but he doesn't let that cloud his mind. it's very refreshing to not have any kind of insta-love or infatuation but gradual, quiet and sweet love.

[StayCalm81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2⭐️

[Sollenbum · Rating 4 out of 5]

The relationship between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi is woven into the politics of the martial world and palace intrigues in this fourth volume of Meng Xi Shi’s “Thousand Autumns”. At the end of the last volume Shen Qiao had fought his way out of Chang’an in order to save a child. This has earned him the respect of his peers and establishes his reputation. He is no longer the fallen leader of the Daoist sect on Xuandu Mountain or merely the kept man of Yan Wushi, the leader of the demonic sect Huanyue.

The plan is to seek sanctuary for the child with the Bixia sect, but before they make it to this remote mountain, Yan Wushi turns up again four months after he had lured Sang Jingxing away from Shen Qiao who was injured and hidden a temple. They have now both saved each other, “…Yan Wushi was the one who owed Shen Qiao more, but matters of the heart couldn’t be treated like transactions – they couldn’t be weighed and calculated so clearly” (p. 25). This is true in literature as in life that people have to navigate the truth of their own relationships; sometimes the inner truth between people looks entirely different to people looking in from the outside.

Even so Yan Wushi realizes that he has much to make up for and thus decides to accompany Shen Qiao to the Bixia sect and even churlishly helps train the sect members even though his good graces may at times seem like cranky whims. Yan Wushi is, however, in no doubt about why he is there or what he is doing. He states plainly, “Naturally, it’s for you” to Shen Qiao and continues on, “Why else would my venerable self grace that tiny sect with my presence!” (p.67). There’s no false humility here, but there is no lie either. Yan Wushi may delight in giving people around them the wrong impression about the status of their relationship, but he is remarkably honest about why he is staying when they are in private.

This volume is full of funny scenes of banter and flirting that develop into spats and power struggles within their relationship. For each scene their closeness is developed further and some scenes are entertaining, because they are both innocent and suggestive at the same time. The fish soup feeding scene (p.106) which is also illustrated at the beginning of the book is a good example of behaviour having many layered meanings whereas the scene after Yan Wushi has saved Shen Qiao once again is more straightforward in its intent (p. 267).

This kiss scene takes place after Yan Wushi has swooped in to save Shen Qiao at the Sword Trial Conference by saying, “This is someone who belongs to my venerable self, and you think you can kill him as you please?” (p. 247). This statement is not exactly subtle and Shen Qiao allows himself to be saved and even falls asleep in Yan Wushi’s arms. Despite his many protests when he is awake and healthy, he lets his guard down when he is saved. It is as if his body knows that he can trust this man even though his logical mind remembers that this man was mercurial enough to hand him over to an enemy at an earlier point in their lives.

There is more romance in the plot in this fourth volume since Yan Wushi is working hard to make up for his behaviour earlier on. He is, however, entirely unrepentant in both his betrayal and his present day, unrequited love. He encompasses both aspects of his personality and is therefore a round and psychologically complex character. It will be interesting to see whether he succeeds in having a reciprocal relationship with Shen Qiao in a way that seems organic and not a contrived, romantic add-on at the end of a series.

The book ends with the beginning of yet another palace intrigue and an amusing scheme where it is Shen Qiao who now needs to dress as a beautiful woman. This scheme is the beginning of their next adventure, which will not be revealed until the publication of the fifth volume later in the year.

[NiaKantorka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

So, we have reached the part of Thousand Autumns where Yan Wushi is the one pinning for Shen Qiao and he does so with vigour and shamelessness. Too bad, his past actions have made the one worthy of his affections becoming indifferent and mostly immune to them. Shen Qiao has learned the hard lesson not to believe in Yan Wushi any longer and though he can see their connection he isn’t swayed by whatever Yan Wushi tries. I’m assuming it’s going to be much fun to see how this plays out in the last volume. We’ve definitely come full circle here.

The political plot has progressed as well and I’m curious to see what is about to happen in Chang’an.

This volume once again had some amazing fighting scenes and the Sword Trial Conference was fun to witness. I felt particularly chuffed about Shen Qiao entering those top ten once again and solely on his own merits (and not on his former master’s reputation).

Onwards to the final volume. 🤗

[ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These people manage to get more gay each volume.

“…’She’s only average. If anything, you have a waist more slender than hers…’”

Okay Yan Wushi, I see you. Dude can’t keep his eyes or hands off of Shen Qiao’s waist. I don’t really blame him though.

“‘This is someone who belongs to my venerable self, and you think you can kill him as you please?’”

Yan Wushi really pulled up to this banquet after dipping out for ~100 pages to come scoop up Shen Qiao and flee the scene with him in tow (of course grabbing Shen Qiao’s waist. Typical Yan Wushi behavior).

“‘Your face is so warm… It must have been a wet dream. Did you dream of my venerable self?’”

Imagine how I felt when I was sitting beside my mother in synagogue reading THAT. I was as stunned as Shen Qiao. Yan Wushi is getting bolder by the second.

“‘…I never intended on marrying into your family by force. If you prefer, you can marry into mine instead.’”

Dude what? Yan Wushi is so flirty in this volume holy shit. Did you forget you traded this guy for a sword?

Anyway, I love how the characters and their relationships have been developing. I’ve been working hard on understanding what’s happening outside of Yanshen gayness. I’m looking forward to the continuation of Shen Qiao crossdressing to infiltrate the palace. Shen Qiao is so pretty <3! He can pull off any look.

[Missha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow and steady is the way to go, thousand autumns shows!

I must admit that I'm still not blown away in a way that left me unsteady and in need of recovery, but rather enjoying this meandering story as if I'm walking though a small stream in late autumn sun.

I had a one week gap in reading and that's never the best for the full experience, but once I got back into this I was flying again. It's great to see Yan Wushi finally realize how certain actions might have certain consequences and grovel in the only way a man like Yan Wushi can.

Shen Qiao still isn't breaking character, still kind, beautiful, and resilient but slowly growing stronger in a way that I can respect a lot. I'm also secretly glad that he's not just giving in into everything Yan Wushi wants. Though some things can't be avoided.

Onto the next one! I said while I also don't want this story to end.

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol. 4 feels like watching two emotionally constipated men circle each other with equal amounts of longing and denial. Shen Qiao is out here glowing like a fragile immortal, attracting trouble and admirers without even trying, while Yan Wushi returns with the chaotic energy of a man who absolutely refuses to admit he’s attached.

The volume mixes political drama with slow-burn tension, giving us rare moments of softness buried under layers of angst, misunderstandings, and power plays. Sometimes the pacing drags, but every time these two interact, the book suddenly becomes ten times more addictive.

A messy, delicious, slow-burn ride. 3.5 stars, and yes, I’m still shipping them.

[naya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yan Wushi:
before A-Qiaofication : 😈☠️
after A-Qiaofication : 🫠🥺🥰😍✨❤️