Heart Protection

by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang, 九鹭非香

Banished from her cultivation sect, Yan Hui accepts a hunt to earn money. She encounters the snake demon she’s hunting but is wounded in the fight. The snake demon flees, and she is forced to stay in remote mountain village until she regains her magic. During her time in the village, Yan Hui stumbles upon several mysteries. Who is the strange boy that seems to be hiding his true nature? And who is the woman dressed in white?

Yan Hui finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy. With fingers pointing at her former shifu as the culprit, Yan Hui sets out to find the truth.

Genres: China, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery

Unknown Binding

About the author

Associated Names:
* Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (English)
* 九鹭非香 (Chinese)
* จิ่วลู่เฟยเซียง (Thai)

Reviews

[Joy]

DNF at Chapter 29

I quite liked 九鹭非香 Jiu Liu Fei Xiang's previous xianxia novels that I read in translation - Sansheng, Death Exists Not at the River of Oblivion and Seven Unfortunate Lifetimes, All Thanks to a Single Moment of Impulse. They were my first introduction to xianxia and the concept of multiple reincarnated lifetimes (waaay before 3L3WTMOPB made xianxia popular). I've also watched the C drama adaptation of Zhao Yao, another 九鹭非香 novel, and her sassy demoness heroine is a delight.

Here the female protagonist Yan Hui reminds me a lot of Zhao Yao. She remembers grievances, pays back in kind and has her own code of ethics. She is the antithesis of those perfect Mary Sue characters who forgive their abusers and bestow kindness upon them, winning them over. The opening scene on how she treats her senior disciple sister reveling in Yan Hui getting kicked out of the sect is quite cool. As is a mutual stabbing scenario between Tian Yao and Yan Hui in a cave. No shortage of fighting back and she doesn't hesitate to run to save her own skin either.

I was quite intrigued by the novel title 护心 but it turns out it's actually meant literally rather than metaphorically. Some interesting reveals have been made involving senior members of the 'good' sect where she was kicked out from and her shifu that she respects. Demons galore with a snake demon, bull, dragon, fox ....Of course the members of the 'good' sect do reprehensible hypocritical actions while the demons are capable of empathy, love and compassion. Enemies to lovers trope.

Lots of action but didn't hook me. The translation also has quite a few grammatical issues. Put on pause for now but note with interest it has an upcoming drama adaptation Back From The Brink https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Back_From_...

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

English title: Heart Protection (adapted to Back from the Brink c-drama)

This was a well-written story that starts out with the meeting of two strangers who slowly realize that they're deeply connected due to past events as they travel together. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it had everything I enjoy: an engaging plot with plenty of mystery, likable characters you can't help but feel sorry for, and a well developed romance.

We follow the FL, Yan Hui, as she's kicked out of her sect for breaking some of the sect's rules and fighting against an elder. Now that she's poor, she decides to take on a demon hunting job to earn some money. Sadly, the first job she takes on lands her in a remote village without her cultivation after she's poisoned by a snake demon. In her weakened state without a way to escape or fight back, she's sold to an old woman to be her idiot grandson's bride. Yan Hui is initially planning to escape, but she realizes that there are multiple things that don't add up with her "husband" and eventual ML, Tian Yao, so she decides to stick around for a couple days until her cultivation recovers.

I'd say the beginning of the story was a bit on the slow side, as the author takes some time to establish the world and the characters. I was very on the fence for the first couple chapters tbh as I wasn't feeling the story or the FL's character. But after Yan Hui and Tian Yao meet, the pacing picks up and it's a nonstop adventure from there.

From finding and trying to heal a famous and powerful cultivator who's been missing for months to rescuing kidnapped fox demons looking for Tian Yao's separated body, there's always going on. And even though these incidents seem isolated, there's an underlying thread tying everything together. It's a wuxia story, so you know that the "good guys" are never all good, and the bad guys, which are the demons (as in animal demons) in this case, are never all bad either. The author really hammers this point across after it's revealed that some cultivators are secretly doing some shady stuff to speed up their cultivation.

**Warning: Spoilers Ahead**

I really enjoyed reading along as Yan Hui and Tian Yao's relationship slowly develops. They start off on the wrong foot and initially don't get along very well, but later they grudgingly decide to help each other and eventually the feelings develop. It was sweet to see how one way or another, they're always there for each other when they need help or are at their lowest. Tian Yao suffered the worst kind of betrayal in his past from someone he deeply loved and never thought he'd love anyone again, but Yan Hui treats him so well that she was able to get past the walls around his heart.

I loved finding out about how important they were to each other without even knowing it. If it weren't for Tian Yao's heart protection scale and neidan, Yan Hui would have never survived as a baby. And without Yan Hui accidentally burning down the tree where Tian Yao's soul was housed, he would never have had a chance to regain a physical body. Crazy how entangled their lives were without even meeting.

Initially I wasn't a fan of the FL's character, but she grew on me later on with her brash, I-don't-care-I'll-do-what-I-want attitude. I also loved her gossipy side XP She experiences character growth as her beliefs are shattered once she finds out her beloved and revered shifu isn't the good guy that she always believed. Luckily the ML is there to comfort her during when she's feeling extra sad, and because of this experience they have something in common.

While both of our main characters grow as they experience different things, I wish I could say the same about the villains, but they're written in pretty black/white tones. It was incredible to me that Su Ying can have such a big heart for the people she cares about but treat the ML so inhumanely and cruelly. And the "final" bad guy and head of the FL's old sect turns out to be hellbent on killing demons and using their neidan to cultivate, so there's zero redeeming qualities about him.

Only the FL's shifu fell in the gray zone; yes he did plenty of bad things himself, but he was trying to make things better in his own way. The author's attempts to redeem him were semi successful, but some of his actions were too much imo, like when he punished the FL to 81 strokes a day for 9 consecutive days. If that had really continued, she would be in such bad shape as a normal human for the rest of her life.

There were some really sweet moments in the romance:

Tian Yao remained silent for a long time: "I originally have no place in this human world." He looked down at his palm. There was still some remaining warmth. "But you....."

He lifted his head and looked at Yan Hui. His voice was both soft and slow: "Gave me a place to stand again."

So, this so-called "where we each belong" place to Tian Yao is where?

When Yan Hui heard those words, it was hard for her to control her despondency.

She was so strongly needed and depended on by someone. It turns out, in this world, she was that important to a person.

Fuck, why did her heart feel like some small fluttering bird singing a joyous song?

Fuck, why did she feel like Tian Yao's presence seemed to burn a little brighter?

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Bleak moonlight shone into the prison. Tian Yao, clothed in black, stood alone in front of Yan Hui.

Four eyes met. Yan Hui was in pitiful condition. Tian Yao looked handsome and sharp, like a god from the heavens or devil from the underworld. It was the same situation as the first time they had met. However, no matter what, it had all changed so much.

He was no longer frail and uneasy. It seemed like he recovered that earth-shaking strength. He had become that type of person. But that type of person, upon seeing the beaten down Yan Hui, couldn't completely hide how heart-broken he felt.

Tian Yao bent over and placed his hands under her arms. He cradled her like a child: "I'll take you out of here."

She was always saving him.

This time, Tian Yao would be doing the saving.

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"I didn't want to be seen by you. The ugly me."

Those muttered words for some reason suddenly transformed into a barbed whip. Pain lashed in Yan Hui's heart. A bitter taste rose in the throat.

So that's why when she went to the healing spring, he didn't want to come out. It was unexpectedly because he had that kind of image hidden in his heart.

He raised his tail, so she could proper herself up on it and peacefully sleep through the night. When he hid his head underwater, was he hiding such an inferior image of himself.........

Yan Hui stroked his cheek: "The truly ugly one was never you." Yan Hui continued, "The ugly one is the one that hurt you."

------------------------

Yan Hui, who was quietly being looked at for a while, became a little uncertain: "Before, you asked me what would've happened if 20 years ago the one you met was me. At that time, I knew you started to feel for me, but I had no affection for you. But recently, I started thinking more about that question, what if I was the one you met 20 years ago."

Yan Hui steadily looked at Tian Yao: "I don't dare say anything else, but if the one you met 20 years ago was me, you would only need to sincerely be with me. Then I would sincerely give my all to you. There will be no deception nor betrayal."

Actually, if the best moment for Tian Yao was meeting Yan Hui when all was bleak, then for Yan Hui, her best moment was having Tian Yao when she had nothing else.

They didn't know when each other became an irreplaceable barrier in their hearts.

I haven't watched the drama, but I enjoyed the novel quite a lot and am curious how the drama adaptation turned out. Might give that a try soon!

[Wduffsnk - ดัฟฟ์ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ล่าหัวใจมังกร
By จิ่วลู่เฟยเซียง
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หลังจาก'เยี่ยนหุย' ถูกขับออกจากสำนักเซียนมา ชีวิตนางไม่มีวันเหมือนเดิมอีก พีคสุดอันดับแรกเลยคือพลาดท่าถูกจับไปขายให้เป็นเมียให้หลานชายสติไม่สมประกอบของแม่เฒ่าผู้หนึ่ง แต่...หลานชายคนนี้ดูเหมือนจะไม่โง่เหมือนที่ใคร ๆ ว่ากันไว้นะ จนวันนึงเขาได้เอ่ยปาก"(ข้ารอ)เพื่อมาพบเจ้าอย่างไรเล่า"
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โอ้ยยย เกือบพลาดเล่มที่โคตรสนุกไปซะแล้ว!!! จริง ๆ นี่ปกติติ่งนิยายของจิ่วลู่มาก แต่เห็นปกแล้วพักก่อน จนอ่านเจาเหยาจบ เลยรื้อมาอ่าน
อ่านแล้วโคตรอิ่มมาก เนื้อเรื่องค่อนข้างจะสมบูรณ์เลยทีเดียว เชื่อมโยงกันมาตลอด ทั้งสตอรี่ไลน์เอย ความรักเอย มิตรภาพ เนื้อเรื่องแวดล้อม โอเคมาก ๆ /เราจะไม่เจอเหตุการณ์แบบตัวละครลับโผล่มา ดึงเรื่องออกทะเลไปไกลหาวันพีชไรงี้เลย
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พูดถึงเนื้อเรื่อง ให้นิยามว่าสนุกปนขม เพราะไม่ว่าเรื่องจะเดินเรื่องมาสนุกแค่ไหน เลเวลความขมก็เริ่มจะเพิ่มขึ้นมากเท่านั้น
เน้นไปที่ความรักที่เป็นไปไม่ได้ และความรักที่ต้องไปพรากอะไรมา
ผลลัพธ์ทุกอย่างมันก็บอกอยู่ในตัวของมันชัดเจน 😭
และความรักของพระนางก็ไม่ได้เริ่มขึ้นอย่างหวานแหววแบบการ์ตูนตาหวาน แต่เริ่มจากการพึ่งพาในวันที่ไม่เหลืออะไรเลย
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ชอบบบนิสัยนางเอกมากก คือนางไม่ใช่คนดีอะไร เป็นคนตรงที่มุ่งไปข้างหน้า แสบ ดุดัน อวดดีมากด้วยซ้ำ แต่ก็ไม่เคยทำเรื่องอะไรที่ผิดต่อมโนธรรมในใจ พอมาเจอตังเมเกาะไม่ปล่อยอย่างพระเอก5555 สิ่งแรกที่นางทำคือพยายามสลัดทิ้ง ไม่อยากหาความยุ่งยากใส่ตัว
มังกรเทียนเย่า...พระเอกของเรา แผลในอดีตที่รอวันทวงแค้น เป็นคนที่น่าสงสารมากความเจ็บปวดในตอนแรกพี่แกเล่าแบบชิว ๆ มาก เราก็รู้สึกว่าชิว ๆ ตามพี่แกนะ แต่คข.ไม่ยอมให้เราชิวอ่ะสิ มันไม่เหมือนว่าเจ็บปวดด้วยคำพูด แต่มาเจ็บปวดเหตุ และการกระทำที่นางเอกสัมผัสและรับรู้ บางทีก็จุกจนพูดไม่ออก
เมื่อคนสองคนที่คล้าย ๆ กันมาอยู่ด้วย กัดกัน ปกป้องกันไม่ว่าจะด้วยไฟลท์บังคับ จนใจ หรือเต็มใจ สิ่งเหล่านี้ได้เพิ่มความอบอุ่นให้แก่กันและกัน จนวันนึงถึงความสัมพันธ์อันซับซ้อนของทั้งคู่ก็กลายเป็นรักกัน /รักกันไม่ง่ายเลยนาจาาา
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ตัวละครแวดล้อมที่เรารู้สึกว่าเขาใส่มาถูกไทม์มิ่ง ค่อย ๆ เผยปมแผนการ สนุกจนเราตกใจว่าอ่านเล่ม2ไปแปปเดียวเอง ไรง่ะ เล่มจบแล้ว ตาชั้นยังไม่หายบวมจากเล่ม2เลยย ว้อททท พออ่านจแล้วอยากได้ผช.แบบเทียนเย่ามากกก สมมติถ้าเราเป็นผช.ก็อยากได้แฟนแบบเยี่ยนหุยเหมือนกัน อยากรู้ว่าทำไมต้องอ่านให้จบ
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สุดท้าย เยี่ยนหุยและเทียนเย่าเป็นคู่พระนางที่โคตรน่ารัก และกินใจเรามากที่สุดคู่หนึ่งไปแล้ว เพราะความรักที่คอยปกป้องกันมันกินใจเราเหลือเกิน ตอนคข.ตั้งชื่อเรื่อง(护心- ปกป้องหัวใจ) ก็คงมีนัยยะแฝงไว้แบบนี้สินะ
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20.08.17
Wduffsnk

[catie 🧿 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m sorry i kno everyone likes him but i don’t like the MCs shifu. literally all of his nonsense could have been avoided if he was just even the tiniest bit communicative. this novel was rly fun and cute. i liked the MC and MLs dynamic. it was cute that he was basically a damsel in distress. and our MC was really funny and ridiculous and shameless but also so insanely cool and badass. i loved tian yao’s character development. if u read this make sure u read the extras. it has a HE but u gotta make sure u read the extras. it was a very fun novel to read. i’ll definitely reread it again. i’m very excited for the drama to come out sometime this year.

[Marine_maiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually rushed to read this before the drama air this year. It is a short read of 108 chapters, happy ending to boot. I read (and watched) a lot of novels and dramas from Jiu Liu Fei Xiang, so I have some expectation of her works. Love between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) is still my favourite adapted drama so far, but I digress here.

She likes to write a similar story setting. Righteous sect/Xian is not always righteous, and demon sect/Yao is not always evil. The comedy was funny. The build-up to the climax scene was good, though I feel like the whole issue is caused by her master... If he actually talked to his disciple, there wouldn't be that much misunderstanding and hu-ha... then again, if there was no hu-ha, then there wouldn't be this story.

Yan Hui and Tian Yao relationship started on hate, but as time went and more events happened, their view about each other slowly change. Actually, Tian Yao was very sweet once he realized his feeling. It was Yan Hui who actually took longer to change. Their strength and role were slowly 'swapped', you could see the difference, which is something that I appreciate.

[A’ n h Kate ྀི]

Tình cảm của anh nam chính bị chà đạp may là được chị nhà bù đắp. Tình cảm của hai người cực chậm mãi chưa thấy tình cảm của chị nhà lộ ra, nam chính thì càng không 😌

Ult chậm nhiệt hơn mấy truyện khác Tình cảm của anh nam chính bị chà đạp may là được chị nhà bù đắp. Tình cảm của hai người cực chậm mãi chưa thấy tình cảm của chị nhà lộ ra, nam chính thì càng không 😌 truyện chậm hơn mấy truyện cùng mẹ.

Đúng là phần đầu thì vui biết bao nhiêu càng về sau càng buồn hơn 😢

[Morewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, not that bad but not that exciting too. The couple's dynamics were good both were very clear about their intentions but somehow they or rather Yan Hui kept getting tangled up with Tian Yao, I guess this is what is called fate.

[feux d'artifice · Rating 4 out of 5]

the stars are all for tian Yao and Yan Hui

I really had so much fun with this story for the first like 4/5 of the book but the forced happy ending and qing guang ending up being the final boss was kinda meh

honestly would have been fine with bad end version lol

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tian Yao and Yan Hui deserve all the happiness the world can offer.

[jacky · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite cnovels now <3 I love the development of the story and couple

[Sutherlin Williams]

DNF at chapter 15

[gabbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In love with the heroine myself ngl. Will probably read more from this author.

[巴赫不附和 · Rating 5 out of 5]

九鹭非香有点东西

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story.
The final chapter and extra epilogues are a treat!

[Emma 旅行 · Rating 5 out of 5]

又是一部仙侠爱情佳作。
写得真好。人物构造很透彻。
有点rushed，但是总是那么感人心扉。
雁回大雁归来，天曜是值得最好的灵龙夫君。

[Maria Gomez de la Torre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing novel! The development of the lead characters are great and how each falls in love with another is also really good.

[Tifany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first xianxia novel. I was NOT disappointed, even though the translation I read was in desperate need of an editor. I would absolutely LOVE an official translation for this novel.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una delle migliori web-novel lette finora.
La protagonista è forte, indipendente, nonostante le cadute continua ad andare avanti; il protagonista all'inizio sembra freddo ma si dimostra invece essere molto gentile.
Insieme formano una coppia bilanciata e alla pari; adoro il fatto che il più delle volte sia lei ad interpretare la parte del principe azzurro.
La storia è avvincente e sorprende ad ogni turno.

[Noël · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What a delightful read this was! I'm now even more excited for the screen adaptation.

[Aslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm all caught up! Probably my favourite xianxia novel I've ever read. All the best things: feisty MC, gray morality, good demons and evil cultivators, a complicated mystery, and slowburn romance. More please!

[Fortluna]

I didn't finish this but you could expect what happened in the end. Dragon ML who got dismembered by his last girlfriend.

[nurmawati · Rating 5 out of 5]

adaptation to drama : BACK FROM THE BRINK.
Actor : NEO HU
Actress : ZHAO YE

First reading using Kindle.
First reading after 5 years
First book that i gave 5/5
Love Tian yao and Yan Hui so much.