The thrilling finale is here! Xie Lian unravels the dark truth behind the chaos haunting Banyue, but uncovering the secrets comes at a steep cost. Now, the Crown Prince faces a deadly threat to his life. Still, His Highness stands firm: preparing a meal for his companion and listening intently to the captivating stories from the Ghost Realm.
“I swear, neither on heaven or earth, you won’t find anyone more sincere that me.”
Ugh, I still can’t believe this is the last volume. I closed the book and just sat there for a bit because it didn’t feel like enough. I already miss it, and I’m really hoping the next series comes out soon. Even though I already know the story from the novel and the donghua, it still got to me. This volume feels heavier in a quiet way. The relationship between Pei Xiu and Banyue honestly hurt to read. It’s so bittersweet, and I kept wishing they could have some kind of real ending too. It left me with that feeling where you know things won’t be fixed, and you just have to sit with it.
Xie Lian continues to be my favorite for how steady he is. Everyone around him is quick to judge or lose patience, and he just… doesn’t. He listens, he thinks, and he chooses empathy even when it makes things harder. There’s something really comforting about that. Hua Cheng, even as San Lang, has this quiet presence that always stands out. He protects Xie Lian without hesitation, and then turns around and acts playful like it’s nothing. And that moment where Xie Lian holds his face to check it? I loved that so much. It was so simple and soft, but it made me smile like an idiot.
What stayed with me most is the feeling that sometimes there’s no clean outcome. Sometimes you fight because you have to, and even when it’s over, you’ve still lost something important. That idea really lingers here. The last few pages hit me harder than I expected. Seeing those flashbacks from all six volumes, along with that small tease of what’s coming next, gave me actual goosebumps. It felt like a quiet goodbye but also a promise that the story isn’t really over yet. And as always, the book itself is beautiful. The artwork, the way everything is presented, it all feels so carefully done. It ends in such a good place, and I’m just left wanting more.
The illustrations were absolutely stunning and the comic itself was beautifully done. I personally felt that the tension between the two main characters came across much more strongly in the first manhua volume (at least the part I’ve read so far) and in the anime, because the exchanged glances and subtle moments are captured more clearly there. Still, this was a wonderful introduction: very slow-burn, seemingly quiet and understated, yet full of promise that something much bigger and deeper is waiting.
For some reason… and I know this is silly…. I had expected the comics to include more of the story in one set. Of course that’s unrealistic, considering how long the original series is (8 books). What worries me a little now is that I don’t yet know whether all of the novels will actually be released as comics, because I would love to see the entire story in this format.
All in all I absolutely think this is worth reading. For anyone who is thinking about starting Heaven Official’s Blessing these comics are a beautiful and accessible entry point into the world and the story.