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Joyful Reunion (Novel) #4
Joyful Reunion (Novel) Vol. 4
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW ENEMIES
Fresh from the imperial examinations, Duan Ling volunteers to journey to the northern city of Ye, where the empire’s border is under threat of a Mongol invasion. Accompanying him is Wu Du, tasked with rebuilding the city’s ragtag garrison into a force capable of holding Ye through the winter. When Duan Ling arrives, however, he discovers that the Mongol army is led by none other than his childhood friend, Borjigin Batu. The grown-up Batu is nothing like the boy Duan Ling remembers—and now, to prove himself to his own people, Batu must capture the very city Duan Ling has sworn to defend.
While Duan Ling and Wu Du brace for Batu’s attack, back in the capital, suspicions mount around the false crown prince. As the empire’s most feared assassins vanish from the capital one after another, more than one person begins to wonder: What deadly secret could draw all Four Great Assassins to the north?
Fresh from the imperial examinations, Duan Ling volunteers to journey to the northern city of Ye, where the empire’s border is under threat of a Mongol invasion. Accompanying him is Wu Du, tasked with rebuilding the city’s ragtag garrison into a force capable of holding Ye through the winter. When Duan Ling arrives, however, he discovers that the Mongol army is led by none other than his childhood friend, Borjigin Batu. The grown-up Batu is nothing like the boy Duan Ling remembers—and now, to prove himself to his own people, Batu must capture the very city Duan Ling has sworn to defend.
While Duan Ling and Wu Du brace for Batu’s attack, back in the capital, suspicions mount around the false crown prince. As the empire’s most feared assassins vanish from the capital one after another, more than one person begins to wonder: What deadly secret could draw all Four Great Assassins to the north?
438 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Fei Tian Ye Xiang
99 books193 followersAssociated Names:
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
* 非天夜翔
* Arise Zhang
* Fei Tian Ye Xiang
* เฟยเทียนเย่เสียง (Thai Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 14, 2026
“Good-looking people always have it easier; in their eyes, the world is a beautiful place because everyone always treats them well.”
I can feel the end of this series getting closer, and I hate it. I love Joyful Reunion so much, and knowing there are only six volumes makes every book feel a little bittersweet now. I want to take my time with it, but I also badly need to know what happens next. The urge to read the FTL is getting dangerously strong. This volume gave me something I’ve been waiting for: Duan Ling and Batu meeting again. I was so nervous about it because I’d wanted their reunion for so long, and I was scared it might hurt more than I was ready for. It ended up giving me so many feelings. There was also another reunion here that made me genuinely happy, and I loved having that moment after everything these characters have been through.
Lang Junxia continues to stress me out. We learn more about his motivations in this volume, but I still don’t fully trust what we’re seeing. Like Duan Ling, I feel like there’s more he’s not saying, and as a reader watching everything unfold, I’m still confused about him. I don’t know if he’s going to switch sides, betray someone again, help Duan Ling, or do something completely unexpected. He already burned me once, so I’m not comfortable trusting him too easily. I’m just hoping, maybe foolishly, that the assassins are somehow on Duan Ling’s side. I liked Zheng Yan before, and I liked him even more here. Chengliu-jun has also claimed a soft spot in my heart, so I’m really hoping none of them turn into enemies.
And then there’s Wudu. I absolutely adore him! He can be so firm and uncompromising one second, then completely give in to whatever Duan Ling wants, even when it goes against his own judgment. Their dynamic gets me every time. Fei Tian really knows how to write characters who feel complicated, lovable, frustrating, and deeply human all at once. I also admire how this volume balances politics, war tension, romance, and character growth without making anything feel too heavy or preachy. It still feels emotional and personal, even with so much happening around them. I finished this volume feeling anxious, happy, worried, and desperate for more. I’m not ready to part with this story, but I know I’m going to keep chasing the next volume anyway.
Date Read: 2026.06.13
I can feel the end of this series getting closer, and I hate it. I love Joyful Reunion so much, and knowing there are only six volumes makes every book feel a little bittersweet now. I want to take my time with it, but I also badly need to know what happens next. The urge to read the FTL is getting dangerously strong. This volume gave me something I’ve been waiting for: Duan Ling and Batu meeting again. I was so nervous about it because I’d wanted their reunion for so long, and I was scared it might hurt more than I was ready for. It ended up giving me so many feelings. There was also another reunion here that made me genuinely happy, and I loved having that moment after everything these characters have been through.
Lang Junxia continues to stress me out. We learn more about his motivations in this volume, but I still don’t fully trust what we’re seeing. Like Duan Ling, I feel like there’s more he’s not saying, and as a reader watching everything unfold, I’m still confused about him. I don’t know if he’s going to switch sides, betray someone again, help Duan Ling, or do something completely unexpected. He already burned me once, so I’m not comfortable trusting him too easily. I’m just hoping, maybe foolishly, that the assassins are somehow on Duan Ling’s side. I liked Zheng Yan before, and I liked him even more here. Chengliu-jun has also claimed a soft spot in my heart, so I’m really hoping none of them turn into enemies.
And then there’s Wudu. I absolutely adore him! He can be so firm and uncompromising one second, then completely give in to whatever Duan Ling wants, even when it goes against his own judgment. Their dynamic gets me every time. Fei Tian really knows how to write characters who feel complicated, lovable, frustrating, and deeply human all at once. I also admire how this volume balances politics, war tension, romance, and character growth without making anything feel too heavy or preachy. It still feels emotional and personal, even with so much happening around them. I finished this volume feeling anxious, happy, worried, and desperate for more. I’m not ready to part with this story, but I know I’m going to keep chasing the next volume anyway.
Date Read: 2026.06.13
June 12, 2026
Everyone thinks Duan Ling is their boyfriend
June 3, 2026
"What holds more weight for you: his life, or those of your people?" Yelü Zongzhen asked.
"Do you really want the answer?" Duan Ling said, smiling. "Best Leave it, or the people will be cursing my name."
I need book 5 ☹️☹️ I miss Duan Ling and Wu Du already
"Do you really want the answer?" Duan Ling said, smiling. "Best Leave it, or the people will be cursing my name."
I need book 5 ☹️☹️ I miss Duan Ling and Wu Du already
May 26, 2026
4.5/5stars
I cant wait for the next volume!!
But also the finale doesnt come out until late JANUARY??? I might need to plan a little reread for that lmao my memory isnt that good I was already forgetting a lot of things in this volume
I cant wait for the next volume!!
But also the finale doesnt come out until late JANUARY??? I might need to plan a little reread for that lmao my memory isnt that good I was already forgetting a lot of things in this volume
May 30, 2026
5/5!! This novel is stealing my heart!
I'm actually really enjoying the politics in this novel, and the romance between Wu Du and Duan Ling is so precious to me! They are truly everything and more—the love and protection between them is unmatched. I need the other two assassins to finally find out who Duan Ling is. I thought it was finally about to happen, but nope!
I will never get over how smart Duan Ling is for his age. He's cunning, an amazing strategist, compassionate, and incredibly intelligent. With Wu Du by his side, they are unstoppable!
The phrase "Old Friends and New Enemies" on the back of the book is exactly what went down in Volume 4. Let me just say, I was in absolute shock and really upset! I wasn't expecting that type of reunion at all!
Happy Reading🥰🥰
SPOILERS IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK!
⚔️ Spoiler Warning! ⚔️
Going off what I just said, Batu is back, and he has this raw desire to capture Duan Ling and drag him everywhere and more. As a reader, it felt like such a betrayal! Batu has officially become the new enemy, while Yelü Zongzhen, his former acquaintance, actually became an old friend and ally.
As for Lang Junxia... I need answers! He is just stringing us along with his mysterious, cryptic responses to Duan Ling’s questions, and I just can't take it! He pisses me off so much. He truly needs to come clean and tell us—and Duan Ling—his real feelings and motives.
On a final note, I have a theory that Zheng Yan already knows Duan Ling is the Crown Prince because of the sheer amount of trust he places in him. Though, Zheng Yan does say some absolutely wild things to him, hahahaha!
I'm actually really enjoying the politics in this novel, and the romance between Wu Du and Duan Ling is so precious to me! They are truly everything and more—the love and protection between them is unmatched. I need the other two assassins to finally find out who Duan Ling is. I thought it was finally about to happen, but nope!
I will never get over how smart Duan Ling is for his age. He's cunning, an amazing strategist, compassionate, and incredibly intelligent. With Wu Du by his side, they are unstoppable!
The phrase "Old Friends and New Enemies" on the back of the book is exactly what went down in Volume 4. Let me just say, I was in absolute shock and really upset! I wasn't expecting that type of reunion at all!
Happy Reading🥰🥰
SPOILERS IN COMMENTS = AUTOMATIC BLOCK!
⚔️ Spoiler Warning! ⚔️
Going off what I just said, Batu is back, and he has this raw desire to capture Duan Ling and drag him everywhere and more. As a reader, it felt like such a betrayal! Batu has officially become the new enemy, while Yelü Zongzhen, his former acquaintance, actually became an old friend and ally.
As for Lang Junxia... I need answers! He is just stringing us along with his mysterious, cryptic responses to Duan Ling’s questions, and I just can't take it! He pisses me off so much. He truly needs to come clean and tell us—and Duan Ling—his real feelings and motives.
On a final note, I have a theory that Zheng Yan already knows Duan Ling is the Crown Prince because of the sheer amount of trust he places in him. Though, Zheng Yan does say some absolutely wild things to him, hahahaha!
May 26, 2026
another great book in the joyful reunion saga. I eagerly count down the days to the next volume for both this and dinghai.
book 4 find duan ling in a more stable position. having made a name for themselves in the previous book, and with duan ling ranking high in the imperial exams, they're given the support of the emperor to travel to the city of ye that is currently under threat of invasion by the mongols.
in a twist of fate, like a dagger in duan ling's back, he is reunited with batu on this very battlefield. batu has only one goal in mind: abscond to yuan with duan ling in his arms. that is resolutely NOT duan ling's plans though. he wants to prove himself to his people, and set the path for him to return to his stolen position. added to that, is his devotion and love to wu du, that he would not exchange for the world.
I believe there are two more books left, and the tension has been effectively mounting this entire time, with different pieces moving everywhere. the ministers of the court are becoming more and more suspicious of this "fake crown prince", and somehow all four of the great assassins find themselves in the same place, far away from the capital on differing missions.
book 4 find duan ling in a more stable position. having made a name for themselves in the previous book, and with duan ling ranking high in the imperial exams, they're given the support of the emperor to travel to the city of ye that is currently under threat of invasion by the mongols.
in a twist of fate, like a dagger in duan ling's back, he is reunited with batu on this very battlefield. batu has only one goal in mind: abscond to yuan with duan ling in his arms. that is resolutely NOT duan ling's plans though. he wants to prove himself to his people, and set the path for him to return to his stolen position. added to that, is his devotion and love to wu du, that he would not exchange for the world.
I believe there are two more books left, and the tension has been effectively mounting this entire time, with different pieces moving everywhere. the ministers of the court are becoming more and more suspicious of this "fake crown prince", and somehow all four of the great assassins find themselves in the same place, far away from the capital on differing missions.
June 13, 2026
I was really struggling with the last couple of chapters - trying to decide if I was going to still give this 5 stars even if it broke my heart with what felt like a pretty inevitable event. But then the story came through with so many perfect layers of emotional intensity once again.
It's hard to say exactly what it is about this series that captures my attention so well. I guess I just really like Duan Ling.
It's funny how this is kind of a harem series, but without ever going over-the-top with everyone's devotion to Duan Ling. He just...earns it. All the affection and fascination and loyalty is something he's built entirely on his own, without using his father's name or his political power to sway others. They love him because they trust him. He makes everyone believe in him, which is the mark of a true leader - and that trust holds up over time because he keeps his promises.
So I get Wu Du falling in love with him - a romance that fortunately didn't spend too long in the awkward blushing stage, and feels like a genuine connection throughout this volume. I don't just mean because there are a bunch of scenes of them getting physical; they're just written to be a very solid couple that relies on each other more and more.
I also get Batu's obsessive attachment to Duan Ling, Yelu Zongzhen's playful offers to adore him forever, Changliu-Jun's respect for him as a teacher, and even Zheng Yan's constant flirtations.
And Lang Junxia...I can't even talk about him. His relationship with Duan Ling is the most complicated of all, but I really love its slow, confusing development as Duan Ling struggles with his current intense fear of him and the bone-deep affection and trust he'd carried for years. Is Lang Junxia telling the truth about only ever using Duan Ling for his own purposes, and never caring for him at all?
I can't believe that to be true - not after seeing him kneeling in piles of ash in despair, thinking he'd lost him forever. That wasn't just about losing a tool he'd honed for future revenge. But what is his real goal, and what's this big mystery about who'd sent him to kill Yelu Zongzhen?
I'm very stressed about the cliffhanger, although I can't imagine any of the big characters will be lost in the subsequent battle. But the story could surprise me by throwing in some big heartbreaking twist.
The whole Batu storyline was really interesting. I do wonder if there are any danmei series that don't treat Mongols like inhuman beasts? It seems like some pretty deep prejudices about their barbaric nature that makes even a childhood friend like Batu impossible to reason or bargain with.
At the same time, Batu does seem to truly love Duan Ling. That was obvious from their first interactions when they were young; Batu was fascinated by him and developed a significant attachment that Duan Ling never paid that much attention to. I was still startled by the revelation about what had actually happened during the battle that'd killed Duang Ling's father, and how much Batu had sacrificed - with his family and his culture - to try to save someone he'd cared about.
So while he's been written off as a lost cause, and I can't really see every nation coming together as a happy-go-lucky group of friends by the end of this series, who knows. Maybe the missing Mongol sword will play a part.
This series is really heavy on political plotting and battle scenes, but it's always written in such a clear, engaging way that I never get bored. And I love seeing Duan Ling developing into an ideal emperor.
I still just really, really hope nothing happens to his uncle before they're able to reunite as genuine family.
It's hard to say exactly what it is about this series that captures my attention so well. I guess I just really like Duan Ling.
It's funny how this is kind of a harem series, but without ever going over-the-top with everyone's devotion to Duan Ling. He just...earns it. All the affection and fascination and loyalty is something he's built entirely on his own, without using his father's name or his political power to sway others. They love him because they trust him. He makes everyone believe in him, which is the mark of a true leader - and that trust holds up over time because he keeps his promises.
So I get Wu Du falling in love with him - a romance that fortunately didn't spend too long in the awkward blushing stage, and feels like a genuine connection throughout this volume. I don't just mean because there are a bunch of scenes of them getting physical; they're just written to be a very solid couple that relies on each other more and more.
I also get Batu's obsessive attachment to Duan Ling, Yelu Zongzhen's playful offers to adore him forever, Changliu-Jun's respect for him as a teacher, and even Zheng Yan's constant flirtations.
And Lang Junxia...I can't even talk about him. His relationship with Duan Ling is the most complicated of all, but I really love its slow, confusing development as Duan Ling struggles with his current intense fear of him and the bone-deep affection and trust he'd carried for years. Is Lang Junxia telling the truth about only ever using Duan Ling for his own purposes, and never caring for him at all?
I can't believe that to be true - not after seeing him kneeling in piles of ash in despair, thinking he'd lost him forever. That wasn't just about losing a tool he'd honed for future revenge. But what is his real goal, and what's this big mystery about who'd sent him to kill Yelu Zongzhen?
I'm very stressed about the cliffhanger, although I can't imagine any of the big characters will be lost in the subsequent battle. But the story could surprise me by throwing in some big heartbreaking twist.
The whole Batu storyline was really interesting. I do wonder if there are any danmei series that don't treat Mongols like inhuman beasts? It seems like some pretty deep prejudices about their barbaric nature that makes even a childhood friend like Batu impossible to reason or bargain with.
At the same time, Batu does seem to truly love Duan Ling. That was obvious from their first interactions when they were young; Batu was fascinated by him and developed a significant attachment that Duan Ling never paid that much attention to. I was still startled by the revelation about what had actually happened during the battle that'd killed Duang Ling's father, and how much Batu had sacrificed - with his family and his culture - to try to save someone he'd cared about.
So while he's been written off as a lost cause, and I can't really see every nation coming together as a happy-go-lucky group of friends by the end of this series, who knows. Maybe the missing Mongol sword will play a part.
This series is really heavy on political plotting and battle scenes, but it's always written in such a clear, engaging way that I never get bored. And I love seeing Duan Ling developing into an ideal emperor.
I still just really, really hope nothing happens to his uncle before they're able to reunite as genuine family.
June 3, 2026
We finally see our main couple together!
This book really shows the tension behind the scenes, it feels as though Duan Ling is constantly put in unstable situations and I really felt the growing unease in the background. Can't wait for the next volume.
This book really shows the tension behind the scenes, it feels as though Duan Ling is constantly put in unstable situations and I really felt the growing unease in the background. Can't wait for the next volume.
June 8, 2026
Truly Fei Tian's magnum opus. Every single character develops in such an unexpected way, it gives me whiplash. My baby is being betrayed left and right by the people he trusted, i can't handle this 😭😭
May 31, 2026
4.5⭐️
June 3, 2026
poor Wu Du with his endless line of rivals
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews