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Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel) #3
Thousand Autumns: Qian Qiu (Novel), Vol. 3
“HE DOESN’T DESERVE TO DIE HERE, NOT LIKE THIS.”
Despite the sting of Yan Wushi’s betrayal fresh on his heart, Shen Qiao rushes to save him from certain death only to arrive a moment too late—or so it seems. As rumor of Yan Wushi’s demise spreads far and wide, the winds of change stir across the land. Meanwhile, Shen Qiao seeks to heal Yan Wushi’s grave injuries, and realizes that his understanding of the Demon Lord runs only skin-deep. Yet fate does not allow the pair to remain idle for long.
When an old friend reveals his true nature, Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi have no choice but to aid him on a perilous mission. Only this time, humans aren’t the only monsters to fear.
Despite the sting of Yan Wushi’s betrayal fresh on his heart, Shen Qiao rushes to save him from certain death only to arrive a moment too late—or so it seems. As rumor of Yan Wushi’s demise spreads far and wide, the winds of change stir across the land. Meanwhile, Shen Qiao seeks to heal Yan Wushi’s grave injuries, and realizes that his understanding of the Demon Lord runs only skin-deep. Yet fate does not allow the pair to remain idle for long.
When an old friend reveals his true nature, Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi have no choice but to aid him on a perilous mission. Only this time, humans aren’t the only monsters to fear.
460 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2024
168 people are currently reading
2862 people want to read
About the author
Meng Xi Shi
83 books444 followersAssociated Names:
* Meng Xi Shi (English)
* 梦溪石 (Chinese)
* เมิ่งซีสือ (Thai)
* Meng Xi Shi (English)
* 梦溪石 (Chinese)
* เมิ่งซีสือ (Thai)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
November 29, 2025
4,5 'Yan Wushi being cute' stars
Rated S for SPOILERS!!
Yeah, a-Qiao is indeed the cutest but I haven't expected that I'll ever witness Yan Wushi acting cute. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning. Vol 2 ended on a cliffhanger and I was really anticipating the great battle from the donghua finale. Well... the book version of this scene is very different. It's still good but donghua one was really epic, so I have to admit I was a tiny bit disapointed. (I do get this scene serves a very different purpose in book and in donghua, so I totally get it, however I just adore how Yan Wushi is being extra badass in finale - and Shen Qiao too - but nevermind, there're still two volumes to go to remedy that.)
Gifs by t110n
my gifs
Vol 3 had many first times and there was a first time (at least what we're aware of) for Yan Wushi to be helpless. I loved how Shen Qiao was like 'I need to save this man but Heaven help me, I'm really tempted to just leave him there'. Yeah, Shen Qiao can be all pure and good hearted but when he reaches his limit than all bets are off.
Fanart by Konia
But of course he doesn't just leave him there. And if he was just a little bit more like Yan Wushi, he would do it only to be able to brag about how he was the one to save Sect Leader Yan.
my gif
The first part of this vol was basically just Shen Qiao taking care of Yan Wushi and being immensly annoyed by it, which is totally understandable since Yan Wushi is the worst patient ever, haha. Applaus please for our dearest a-Qiao for not loosing patience and just smacking this venerable one over his head.
Fanart by Konia
Also, I almost couldn't believe we actually got feeding medicine mouth to mouth, haha. Yes, indeed Yan Wushi joked about it before but now it was Shen Qiao doing the deed.
Fanart by wxym0910
Fanart by Konia
Yeah, the unfortunate onlooker was a girl with a crush on Shen Qiao but she very courageously accepted the defeat and even wished the two of them happy ever after. Very sweet of her 💖
Fanart by Konia
This pic just popped in my head immediately when I read this 🥰🥰
And we were blessed with another old yanshen pic in vol 5.
Fanart by 舟行绿水
The part in the dessert dragged a little bit and the monkyes were kind of weird. I don't know, it was just such a WTF moment. But we got a lot of info here, so I guess it was needed. And I still really enjoyed some parts.
Fanart by Konia
As much as I liked Yan Wushi being all cute and sweet, I was very happy when he got back to being his usual annoyingly arogant self. It suits him so much better!
Did I mention already how I'm never able to escape Wu Lei's voice when I'm reading? Now I even hear his laugh, lol. Not that I'm complaining, of course 😄
Anyway, moving on. Yan Wushi isn't the only one who is slowly getting better to being his usual self. Shen Qiao is also making progress in getting back his strength and even surplusing it. I know I already said that - but I'm just so excited to see him wipe the floor with everyone who mocked him.
Gifs by t110n
There are a lot of descriptions of fights in this book and this can sometimes be kind of boring but I have to say that I'm never bored reading Meng Xi Shi's fights. She describes everything so vividly and I'm just in awe and hoping that my imagination is doing it justice. (Donghua certainly helps here as well.)
my gifs
As for the progress in yanshen relationship... well, we're getting there... slowly. I mean, I think Yan Wushi offically doesn't try to kill Shen Qiao anymore, so how's that for a progress, haha. However, we can say that now it's Shen Qiao who got the taste for killings. Aren't they cute together? 😍😍
Gif by jiaoliqiao
Fanart by wxym0910
I should point out that he was angry because he was jelaous of himself. I just love when they do that, lol, of course, this venerable one is the only venerable one's rival.
Fanart by etroveria
But honestly, no matter how much you think that Yan Wushi will finally correct his behaviour, he will prove you wrong all over again. Even when he's playing the saviour, he just cannot not be his annoying self.
Fanart by xiangguu
Well, well, Yan Zongzhu, we'll see who will be the last to laugh 🤭
my gif
Fanart by Shimmer白蝶
P. S. I forgot to mention how addorable Shen Qiao is with kids 🥰 And they all just stick to him, like 'oh, look, a kind gege, we must follow'.
P. P. S. I also forgot to share the other opening donghua song. Enjoy!
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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rated S for SPOILERS!!
Yeah, a-Qiao is indeed the cutest but I haven't expected that I'll ever witness Yan Wushi acting cute. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's start at the beginning. Vol 2 ended on a cliffhanger and I was really anticipating the great battle from the donghua finale. Well... the book version of this scene is very different. It's still good but donghua one was really epic, so I have to admit I was a tiny bit disapointed. (I do get this scene serves a very different purpose in book and in donghua, so I totally get it, however I just adore how Yan Wushi is being extra badass in finale - and Shen Qiao too - but nevermind, there're still two volumes to go to remedy that.)
Gifs by t110n
my gifs
Vol 3 had many first times and there was a first time (at least what we're aware of) for Yan Wushi to be helpless. I loved how Shen Qiao was like 'I need to save this man but Heaven help me, I'm really tempted to just leave him there'. Yeah, Shen Qiao can be all pure and good hearted but when he reaches his limit than all bets are off.
Fanart by Konia
But of course he doesn't just leave him there. And if he was just a little bit more like Yan Wushi, he would do it only to be able to brag about how he was the one to save Sect Leader Yan.
my gif
The first part of this vol was basically just Shen Qiao taking care of Yan Wushi and being immensly annoyed by it, which is totally understandable since Yan Wushi is the worst patient ever, haha. Applaus please for our dearest a-Qiao for not loosing patience and just smacking this venerable one over his head.
Fanart by Konia
"What happened to you?"
"Hurts..." Yan Wushi looked at him. A hint of indignation came over his gaze - he seemed to be condemning Shen Qiao for standing over there instead of coming to him.
Shen Qiao had lived for thirty years and experienced all sorts of difficulties and dilemmas, but never had he been at such a loss on how to react as he was now.
Was Yan Wushi acting pitiful on purpose?
Also, I almost couldn't believe we actually got feeding medicine mouth to mouth, haha. Yes, indeed Yan Wushi joked about it before but now it was Shen Qiao doing the deed.
Fanart by wxym0910
The door to the inner room was open, and the result was that she saw a scene that left her gaping and tounge-tied: Shen Qiao was bent at the waist, gripping the alive-dead man's chin as he pressed their mouths together. Beneath the blinding sunlight, she could even see their tongues briefly interwine.
Fanart by Konia
Yeah, the unfortunate onlooker was a girl with a crush on Shen Qiao but she very courageously accepted the defeat and even wished the two of them happy ever after. Very sweet of her 💖
"It's fine. Buddha sent you to me, but he refused to bring us together. It's obvious that we're not meant to be. I hope his esteemed self blesses the two of you, so that you can grow old together!"
Shen Qiao did not know how to respond.
Fanart by Konia
This pic just popped in my head immediately when I read this 🥰🥰
And we were blessed with another old yanshen pic in vol 5.
Fanart by 舟行绿水
The part in the dessert dragged a little bit and the monkyes were kind of weird. I don't know, it was just such a WTF moment. But we got a lot of info here, so I guess it was needed. And I still really enjoyed some parts.
Fanart by Konia
As much as I liked Yan Wushi being all cute and sweet, I was very happy when he got back to being his usual annoyingly arogant self. It suits him so much better!
Yan Wushi gave a cold laugh. To him, squabbling with them was beneath him.
Did I mention already how I'm never able to escape Wu Lei's voice when I'm reading? Now I even hear his laugh, lol. Not that I'm complaining, of course 😄
Anyway, moving on. Yan Wushi isn't the only one who is slowly getting better to being his usual self. Shen Qiao is also making progress in getting back his strength and even surplusing it. I know I already said that - but I'm just so excited to see him wipe the floor with everyone who mocked him.
Gifs by t110n
Etheral light rippled, converging and diverging - at times dark at times bright. Within this he danced, poised like a crane on the verge of taking flight.
The heart is within the sword, and the sword is within the man. Forgetting both myself and the world, I achive perfect clarity.
There are a lot of descriptions of fights in this book and this can sometimes be kind of boring but I have to say that I'm never bored reading Meng Xi Shi's fights. She describes everything so vividly and I'm just in awe and hoping that my imagination is doing it justice. (Donghua certainly helps here as well.)
my gifs
"It's only been several months, yet Daoist Master Shen's martial arts seem to have advanced another level! This is truly a commendable feat!" Buddhist Master Xueting's expression was grave.
As for the progress in yanshen relationship... well, we're getting there... slowly. I mean, I think Yan Wushi offically doesn't try to kill Shen Qiao anymore, so how's that for a progress, haha. However, we can say that now it's Shen Qiao who got the taste for killings. Aren't they cute together? 😍😍
He barley had a strengt to stand. Overcome by his overtaxed martial strenght and internal injuries, his sight faded and his ears rang as he collapsed forward.
Yan Wushi caught him without hesitation. He even smiled and said, "A-Qiao, I know you like me, but you don't have to throw yourself into my arms like this!"
Gif by jiaoliqiao
Yan Wushi startled, then a strange cruelty rose to his face, as if a mask had suddenly broken. [...]
Yan Wushi quickly shut his eyes!
After a moment, he opened them again, reaching down to carefully stroke Shen Qiao'c cheek. Then his hand meandered to the back to grasp his nape, pulling him up a little. Finally, he lowered his own head and swallowed each one of those incessant murmurs, taking them into his mouth.
Fanart by wxym0910
I should point out that he was angry because he was jelaous of himself. I just love when they do that, lol, of course, this venerable one is the only venerable one's rival.
Fanart by etroveria
But honestly, no matter how much you think that Yan Wushi will finally correct his behaviour, he will prove you wrong all over again. Even when he's playing the saviour, he just cannot not be his annoying self.
"I've always done as I pleased without a single regret. This isn't for atonement, much less something as laughable as guilt. You don't need to feel indebted to me, or go as far as to harbor some self-serving, wishful thought about the meaning of it all. That would only make me want to throw up."
He used his thumb to wipe away the shine from Shen Qiao's lip and chuckled softly. "This venerable one is waiting for you to make good on your promise one day. Become a worthy opponent. Then perhaps this venerable one will deem you worthy of a second look."
Fanart by xiangguu
Well, well, Yan Zongzhu, we'll see who will be the last to laugh 🤭
my gif
Dark hair and blue robes, a longsword on his back, his complexion lustrous, bright like a shining moon. He looked like an immortal among humans, subtly giving off a sense of unapproachable, lofty abstinence.
Fanart by Shimmer白蝶
P. S. I forgot to mention how addorable Shen Qiao is with kids 🥰 And they all just stick to him, like 'oh, look, a kind gege, we must follow'.
P. P. S. I also forgot to share the other opening donghua song. Enjoy!
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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 18, 2025
bruv let so many things slide that i personally wouldn’t, shen qiao is a freaking SAINT for giving him a second chance and forgiving him even though he didn’t deserve it #meninwomenfields
January 3, 2024
I genuinely don’t know how I’m going to be able to write down everything that I’m feeling right now. This volume made me laugh, scream, cry and I had to shut the book several times to gasp and make faces (you know how it goes).
The demon monkeys are, of course, an ingenious tidbit. (Too bad they didn’t manage to eat Chen Gong and co.) Xie Ling and A-Yan are so precious, I was sorry to say goodbye to them. Every interaction Shen Qiao had with yws was a rollercoaster, but there was a lot of growth between those two but also as people individually. Obviously, we’d all prefer for yws to grovel and cry and beg Shen Qiao for forgiveness, but it’s not in his nature, and it wouldn’t be realistic for his character to do that. He’s still callous and imperfect and refuses to regret handing Shen Qiao to the dogs but there is something buried under the mauve depths of his soul. We saw that when he parted with sq to draw sang jingxing away. He feels something for Shen Qiao (he literally gets jealous of himself when he’s Xie Ling).
The last 50 pages… everything went even further south. Crazily so. Shen Qiao was so busy with trying to keep both himself and Yan Wushi alive that he became completely disconnected from what was happening in the secular world, especially since they couldn’t risk sending word to Chang’an. But I was shocked and completely caught off guard when he got there and the Emperor had passed, leaving the good for nothing Yuwen Yun in charge. I was really not expecting Yuwen Xian to die like that— I thought there would be plans to rally behind the Prince of Qi to take back Zhou, but I suppose everything should be unfolding within Yan Wushi’s expectations (at least, I hope).
I will be perpetually screaming about Shen Qiao fighting off two elders from Hehuan Sect and Ungrateful Swine (also known as Chen Gong but I get so angry seeing his name that I must apologise and insist that a fitting moniker be used instead, otherwise I shall have a fitful night’s sleep plagued with the horror of knowing he’s still alive and bothering our A-Qiao) at the same time, whilst carrying a little girl in one arm and protecting a little boy behind him. He’s the most good, upright and tender-hearted person in the world and I would go to the ends of the world for him to find his happiness. (What will it take for people to leave him alone?! I know A-Qiao wants some peace and quiet so that his internal qi can catch up to his martial arts but alas, it looks like fate has other plans with our hero.)
The demon monkeys are, of course, an ingenious tidbit. (Too bad they didn’t manage to eat Chen Gong and co.) Xie Ling and A-Yan are so precious, I was sorry to say goodbye to them. Every interaction Shen Qiao had with yws was a rollercoaster, but there was a lot of growth between those two but also as people individually. Obviously, we’d all prefer for yws to grovel and cry and beg Shen Qiao for forgiveness, but it’s not in his nature, and it wouldn’t be realistic for his character to do that. He’s still callous and imperfect and refuses to regret handing Shen Qiao to the dogs but there is something buried under the mauve depths of his soul. We saw that when he parted with sq to draw sang jingxing away. He feels something for Shen Qiao (he literally gets jealous of himself when he’s Xie Ling).
The last 50 pages… everything went even further south. Crazily so. Shen Qiao was so busy with trying to keep both himself and Yan Wushi alive that he became completely disconnected from what was happening in the secular world, especially since they couldn’t risk sending word to Chang’an. But I was shocked and completely caught off guard when he got there and the Emperor had passed, leaving the good for nothing Yuwen Yun in charge. I was really not expecting Yuwen Xian to die like that— I thought there would be plans to rally behind the Prince of Qi to take back Zhou, but I suppose everything should be unfolding within Yan Wushi’s expectations (at least, I hope).
I will be perpetually screaming about Shen Qiao fighting off two elders from Hehuan Sect and Ungrateful Swine (also known as Chen Gong but I get so angry seeing his name that I must apologise and insist that a fitting moniker be used instead, otherwise I shall have a fitful night’s sleep plagued with the horror of knowing he’s still alive and bothering our A-Qiao) at the same time, whilst carrying a little girl in one arm and protecting a little boy behind him. He’s the most good, upright and tender-hearted person in the world and I would go to the ends of the world for him to find his happiness. (What will it take for people to leave him alone?! I know A-Qiao wants some peace and quiet so that his internal qi can catch up to his martial arts but alas, it looks like fate has other plans with our hero.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
I think if I could give this book 6 stars, I would.
From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat. I can't say it's actually any faster than the first two books, however every aspect of it kept me racing through the pages- it was physically painful to put it down.
To start with Shen Qiao, I've enjoyed his character since book 1, however the way in which he holds himself and the power he wields now makes me genuinely emotional. I feel like a proud mother watching him grow into what he is now, and how he stands so sure of himself and the greater good. Although I've always been fond of him, I feel so much closer to him in this novel. That last battle where he protected Dou Yan and Yuwen Song... I swear reading it was a magical experience.
Another aspect that kept me guessing the whole time is Yan Wushi. He feels so unlike any character I've read before because of how unpredictable he is, and how he defies all expectations of a ML.. Does he have a chance for redemption? I'm not quite sure, however the whole split personality ordeal makes me so curious about his backstory. And I'm just as weak as Shen Qiao because Xie Ling made me SOB... he's like the purest form of Yan Wushi, pre whatever trauma turned him into the untrusting person he is today. And that makes me have hope for some kind of redemption arc.
But I have to admit, I like him so much as a character. Maybe it's cause he's so blunt and calls people the most ridiculous names, or it's the way he's the only person to get onto Shen Qiao's nerves, but I might be one of his biggest fans.
Also, I hate Chen Gong so much. I'm so sick of him, I groaned out loud when he didn't die. I do NOT want to see him again.
I can't believe I have to wait 2 months for the fourth book to come out!!!!
From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat. I can't say it's actually any faster than the first two books, however every aspect of it kept me racing through the pages- it was physically painful to put it down.
To start with Shen Qiao, I've enjoyed his character since book 1, however the way in which he holds himself and the power he wields now makes me genuinely emotional. I feel like a proud mother watching him grow into what he is now, and how he stands so sure of himself and the greater good. Although I've always been fond of him, I feel so much closer to him in this novel. That last battle where he protected Dou Yan and Yuwen Song... I swear reading it was a magical experience.
Another aspect that kept me guessing the whole time is Yan Wushi. He feels so unlike any character I've read before because of how unpredictable he is, and how he defies all expectations of a ML.. Does he have a chance for redemption? I'm not quite sure, however the whole split personality ordeal makes me so curious about his backstory. And I'm just as weak as Shen Qiao because Xie Ling made me SOB... he's like the purest form of Yan Wushi, pre whatever trauma turned him into the untrusting person he is today. And that makes me have hope for some kind of redemption arc.
But I have to admit, I like him so much as a character. Maybe it's cause he's so blunt and calls people the most ridiculous names, or it's the way he's the only person to get onto Shen Qiao's nerves, but I might be one of his biggest fans.
Also, I hate Chen Gong so much. I'm so sick of him, I groaned out loud when he didn't die. I do NOT want to see him again.
I can't believe I have to wait 2 months for the fourth book to come out!!!!
November 11, 2024
Some random person: *sees Shen Qiao*
Yan Wushi: You worthless numbskull, you uncultured swine, you braindead evil ugly cur, how dare you breath the same air as my A-Qiao, LOOK AWAY GET AWAY MORON 😡😤
🤣🤣🤣
I freakin' love them. Low-key patting myself in the back for having patiently waited till the series is finished, cuz my ass be binging this!
Yan Wushi: You worthless numbskull, you uncultured swine, you braindead evil ugly cur, how dare you breath the same air as my A-Qiao, LOOK AWAY GET AWAY MORON 😡😤
🤣🤣🤣
I freakin' love them. Low-key patting myself in the back for having patiently waited till the series is finished, cuz my ass be binging this!
May 16, 2025
Wake up vol. 3 cover just dropped!
December 12, 2024
i definitely liked this volume way better than i did the previous one but i still can’t get into the plot
i love shen qiao & yan wushi and their messy relationship though so whether i vibe with the plot or not i have no choice but to continue 😭
i love shen qiao & yan wushi and their messy relationship though so whether i vibe with the plot or not i have no choice but to continue 😭
June 18, 2025
"With the Dao, even tens of thousands of enemies will be unable to cease my advance."
Before I go over everything else, I want to point how powerful that line is. It captures Shen Qiao’s essence: unwavering, righteous, and unshakable. He doesn’t rely on brute force, but on conviction. It’s not arrogance but faith. And that makes him unstoppable. And you know that the Dao isn't just a concept to him but it's what anchors him through betrayal, heartbreak, and danger. Ah, foolish A-Qiao, you are truly wonderful.
Anyway, it took me like maybe nearly two weeks to finish rereading this volume because my schedule is jam-packed with seminars, thesis making, and exams. But opening a page will never fail to move me. And I may have cried a lot more than I could remember. Rest in peace Xie Ling, A-Yan, Yuwen Xian, and Yan Ying. I was in so much pain.
In this volume we could see that even if Yan Wushi is still him, cruel and without mercy, there are small but tiny glimpses of his affection towards Shen Qiao. Which mostly manifests in his other personalities, and to which he eventually killed. Those glimpses, they're subtle, brief, but deeply affecting, because it tells us he can feel, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. And when he did kill those personas, especially Xie Ling, he destroys the parts of himself capable of love. No grand declarations, just cold, deliberate erasure. And the aftermath, which is Shen Qiao’s silent mourning, is devastating.
But Shen Qiao has always known that Yan Wushi is that ruthless but he never thought of changing him. Instead, he silently holds to Yan Wushi, even if it costs him. And what he does want is to be strong enough, so that he can stand equal with Yan Wushi, as someone worthy in his own right. He doesn’t ask for Yan Wushi to meet him halfway. He just wants to reach him, on his own terms. His path isn't about reforming the other person, it’s about not abandoning himself, even as he steps closer to someone who stands on the opposite shore. I believe that hits harder than any love confession.
Also! There are a lot of passages in this volume wherein Shen Qiao is in turmoil whenever he thinks of Yan Wushi. He's even starting to followi Yan Wushi's way of solving problems. Foolish A-Qiao.
Anyway, I can't wait to read more once I'm free. I love this book so much! Everything is just so thrilling and moving. Meng Xi Shi never fails to deliver especially with her fight scenes. And the politics and societal themes that reflects and brings up real world connotations are making my head ring. Moreover, the angst? I am eating them all up!
Before I go over everything else, I want to point how powerful that line is. It captures Shen Qiao’s essence: unwavering, righteous, and unshakable. He doesn’t rely on brute force, but on conviction. It’s not arrogance but faith. And that makes him unstoppable. And you know that the Dao isn't just a concept to him but it's what anchors him through betrayal, heartbreak, and danger. Ah, foolish A-Qiao, you are truly wonderful.
Anyway, it took me like maybe nearly two weeks to finish rereading this volume because my schedule is jam-packed with seminars, thesis making, and exams. But opening a page will never fail to move me. And I may have cried a lot more than I could remember. Rest in peace Xie Ling, A-Yan, Yuwen Xian, and Yan Ying. I was in so much pain.
In this volume we could see that even if Yan Wushi is still him, cruel and without mercy, there are small but tiny glimpses of his affection towards Shen Qiao. Which mostly manifests in his other personalities, and to which he eventually killed. Those glimpses, they're subtle, brief, but deeply affecting, because it tells us he can feel, even if he doesn’t want to admit it. And when he did kill those personas, especially Xie Ling, he destroys the parts of himself capable of love. No grand declarations, just cold, deliberate erasure. And the aftermath, which is Shen Qiao’s silent mourning, is devastating.
But Shen Qiao has always known that Yan Wushi is that ruthless but he never thought of changing him. Instead, he silently holds to Yan Wushi, even if it costs him. And what he does want is to be strong enough, so that he can stand equal with Yan Wushi, as someone worthy in his own right. He doesn’t ask for Yan Wushi to meet him halfway. He just wants to reach him, on his own terms. His path isn't about reforming the other person, it’s about not abandoning himself, even as he steps closer to someone who stands on the opposite shore. I believe that hits harder than any love confession.
Also! There are a lot of passages in this volume wherein Shen Qiao is in turmoil whenever he thinks of Yan Wushi. He's even starting to followi Yan Wushi's way of solving problems. Foolish A-Qiao.
Anyway, I can't wait to read more once I'm free. I love this book so much! Everything is just so thrilling and moving. Meng Xi Shi never fails to deliver especially with her fight scenes. And the politics and societal themes that reflects and brings up real world connotations are making my head ring. Moreover, the angst? I am eating them all up!
April 11, 2024
I wanna cry over how amazing this volume is. This was by far the best volume in the series.
The Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi content in this book? Unmatched.
I was genuinely not expecting the YanShen content to be this insane mix of amusing, sweet, and tragic, but what do you know? Yan Wushi’s multiple personalities appearing due to injury was a fun surprise, and I was lowkey suspicious of him at first. Because. Yan Wushi. Acting docile and clingy? No fucking way. But I have quickly adapted and developed such an emotional attachment to A-Yan and Xie Ling. They will be missed 🫡
(I can’t not add these long ass quotes to this review because they’re too goddamn hilarious) Don’t even get me started on how much I’ve loved this side of Shen Qiao in this volume. He was so sassy and done with Yan Wushi’s bullshit. And that long awaited scene. Of Shen Qiao finally giving Yan Wushi that well deserved slap in the face.
Don’t think I don’t see you Yan Wushi. I could sense that man’s jealous ass from a mile away. And the best part? He’s jealous of himself.
*plays jealousy jealousy by Olivia Rodrigo*
But seriously, I’ve loved loved loved the YanShen dynamic in this volume. And even if it’s not obvious, I can see Yan Wushi’s facade starting to break and he’s catching the feelings. Too bad Shen Qiao’s sick of his ass (as he should be). Shen Qiao is truly a better man than me, than everyone in this book, than everyone in the world. Because how he puts up with Yan Wushi is beyond me.
HE SAID THE THING 🫵
Shen Qiao’s absolute badassery in this volume??? Un-believe-able. He truly has progressed so much since volume 1. He really is making a name for himself. Watch out everyone, Shen Qiao is coming for you.
And that ending!! Yan Wushi actually sacrifices himself for Shen Qiao, the worsening situation in Chang’an, and Shen Qiao inadvertently adopts two new children???? I fucking love this volume.
The Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi content in this book? Unmatched.
He had no words to respond to that. Shen Qiao, who'd always been outstandingly good-tempered, suddenly had an urge. An urge to upend the other bowl of soup in his hand over that man's head.
Yan Wushi seemed to have sensed his thoughts and shrank back despite himself. Once again, he looked at Shen Qiao with that hurt expression.
Shen Qiao held his forehead and looked to the heavens, speechless.
I was genuinely not expecting the YanShen content to be this insane mix of amusing, sweet, and tragic, but what do you know? Yan Wushi’s multiple personalities appearing due to injury was a fun surprise, and I was lowkey suspicious of him at first. Because. Yan Wushi. Acting docile and clingy? No fucking way. But I have quickly adapted and developed such an emotional attachment to A-Yan and Xie Ling. They will be missed 🫡
After a long time with no reply, Yan Wushi raised his head to look at Shen Qiao, then said hesitantly, "Like last time... Kis."
If I knock him unconscious right now, will he wake up with a more normal personality? Shen Qiao contemplated this with all seriousness.
Yan Wushi seemed to have sensed the impending danger; he swallowed down the "kiss" that was halfway out of his mouth and huddled in a corner of the bed.
(I can’t not add these long ass quotes to this review because they’re too goddamn hilarious) Don’t even get me started on how much I’ve loved this side of Shen Qiao in this volume. He was so sassy and done with Yan Wushi’s bullshit. And that long awaited scene. Of Shen Qiao finally giving Yan Wushi that well deserved slap in the face.
But in Yan Wushi's eyes, whether it was Xie Ling or Yan Wushi didn't matter. Good or evil, painful or wonderful—he alone should be special to Shen Qiao. There was no need for some other random person to partake in that special regard.
Don’t think I don’t see you Yan Wushi. I could sense that man’s jealous ass from a mile away. And the best part? He’s jealous of himself.
"You're crying?" Yan Wushi was a bit stunned, thinking it incomprehensible. "What is there to cry about? Xie Ling was merely a fragment of my soul, not even a person."
Shen Qiao said dully, "He might have been a fragment to you, but to me, he was once a living person."
*plays jealousy jealousy by Olivia Rodrigo*
But seriously, I’ve loved loved loved the YanShen dynamic in this volume. And even if it’s not obvious, I can see Yan Wushi’s facade starting to break and he’s catching the feelings. Too bad Shen Qiao’s sick of his ass (as he should be). Shen Qiao is truly a better man than me, than everyone in this book, than everyone in the world. Because how he puts up with Yan Wushi is beyond me.
Yan Wushi suddenly began to laugh. "Foolish A-Qiao," he said gently. "When have I ever been good to you?"
HE SAID THE THING 🫵
But at this time, all eyes were on him as he fought against heavy odds, single handedly overcoming greater numbers.
With this battle, his name was destined to shake the world itself!
Shen Qiao’s absolute badassery in this volume??? Un-believe-able. He truly has progressed so much since volume 1. He really is making a name for himself. Watch out everyone, Shen Qiao is coming for you.
And that ending!! Yan Wushi actually sacrifices himself for Shen Qiao, the worsening situation in Chang’an, and Shen Qiao inadvertently adopts two new children???? I fucking love this volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2024
I love when Yan Wushi acts cute 🥺🥰
January 23, 2025
“There may be hundreds of thousands of Chen Gong’s in this world, but there is only one Shen Qiao.”
I couldn’t agree more! Shen Qiao just might be my favourite danmei character. He kicked some serious ass in this volume. I would love to see more of Shen Qiao protecting children <3 He’s a natural with kids.
I couldn’t agree more! Shen Qiao just might be my favourite danmei character. He kicked some serious ass in this volume. I would love to see more of Shen Qiao protecting children <3 He’s a natural with kids.
September 19, 2024
With every new volume, I fall deeper and deeper in love with Thousand Autumns.
There was so much to love about this volume, to the point where the ending alone, with all the political drama and martial arts combat scenes and Shen Qiao being incredible, was so captivating that for a moment I forgot this was also the volume that gave me Yan Wushi healing from basically dying and having split personalities. Like!! So much to love happened in this volume!!!
I am so intrigued by the political aspect of this novel, and now that things have really started to ramp up, I am eager to see how everything resolves, and how Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi play a part in it. I also really like that all the characters we were introduced to in the past are coming back and continuing to play major roles in some way; it makes the political situation and world feel very interconnected, which meshes well with the philosophical themes of the story.
I am also extremely eager to see how Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi's relationship continues to develop. I loved Yan Wushi's different personalities; it was interesting to see all these different sides to him and their shared traits, and it was really fun to see each one interact with Shen Qiao. And boy oh boy did I LOVE Yan Wushi getting jealous, essentially, over himself. Like, bestie, maybe if you wanted Shen Qiao to like you, you shouldn't have been such an asshole the whole time???
But really -- I love that Yan Wushi is starting to shift. Shen Qiao is unlike any other person he's ever known, and it's starting to affect him, even if he's not willing to admit it yet. And I find that so compelling because he is going to really need to win Shen Qiao over, considering that he's been pretty awful and betrayed him more than once and is the reason Shen Qiao has developed both the ability to read people and trust issues. Yes, Shen Qiao is drawn to Yan Wushi for practical reasons (saving him for "the greater good" of the empire), but he has been burned and put off and teased far too much to see Yan Wushi in an affectionate light (I think and hope), so I am super invested in seeing what Yan Wushi is going to have to do in order to win Shen Qiao over. I am so nervous that there are only two volumes left. It doesn't seem like enough. I hope it is. I really do. Please give me long and very messy courting. Please. I need it.
There was so much to love about this volume, to the point where the ending alone, with all the political drama and martial arts combat scenes and Shen Qiao being incredible, was so captivating that for a moment I forgot this was also the volume that gave me Yan Wushi healing from basically dying and having split personalities. Like!! So much to love happened in this volume!!!
I am so intrigued by the political aspect of this novel, and now that things have really started to ramp up, I am eager to see how everything resolves, and how Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi play a part in it. I also really like that all the characters we were introduced to in the past are coming back and continuing to play major roles in some way; it makes the political situation and world feel very interconnected, which meshes well with the philosophical themes of the story.
I am also extremely eager to see how Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi's relationship continues to develop. I loved Yan Wushi's different personalities; it was interesting to see all these different sides to him and their shared traits, and it was really fun to see each one interact with Shen Qiao. And boy oh boy did I LOVE Yan Wushi getting jealous, essentially, over himself. Like, bestie, maybe if you wanted Shen Qiao to like you, you shouldn't have been such an asshole the whole time???
But really -- I love that Yan Wushi is starting to shift. Shen Qiao is unlike any other person he's ever known, and it's starting to affect him, even if he's not willing to admit it yet. And I find that so compelling because he is going to really need to win Shen Qiao over, considering that he's been pretty awful and betrayed him more than once and is the reason Shen Qiao has developed both the ability to read people and trust issues. Yes, Shen Qiao is drawn to Yan Wushi for practical reasons (saving him for "the greater good" of the empire), but he has been burned and put off and teased far too much to see Yan Wushi in an affectionate light (I think and hope), so I am super invested in seeing what Yan Wushi is going to have to do in order to win Shen Qiao over. I am so nervous that there are only two volumes left. It doesn't seem like enough. I hope it is. I really do. Please give me long and very messy courting. Please. I need it.
June 29, 2025
۶ৎ★★★★ ½ stars! ♪‧₊˚
There were so many good quotes that I was struggling to pick a good one for the top!!! I actually really liked this volume compared to the previous ones, it was definitely a breath of fresh air from the rather stagnant story line. I have great hopes for the next two!
Yan Wushi being knocked down a peg was actually amazing, and I was very pleased to see him needing to lean on someone else. Shen Qiao really is too kind, Yan Wushi doesn’t deserve it. I kinda liked the friendship happening between them, which surprised me because I’d hated Yan Wushi and only wished for Shen Qiao to be mean. Alas! Shen Qiao is just too kind a person.
I’m so happy to see Shen Qiao getting his strength back!!! I also adore the fact that he’s finally starting to be a little meaner and actually does learn from the things that happen to him. Still the kindest Daoist master, yet he’s finally giving these freaks a logical response…
I had a lot of fun reading this one. My slump from earlier is finally over I think, and I definitely think this volume helped. I took off a half star because I do still think there are too many repetitive issues. Shen Qiao still pukes blood all the time and something bad is constantly happening! This is also a personal issue, but my god the politics and regions are lowkey really confusing for me; read this series in one go and very close together and it’ll be better, I brought this on myself.
”’he’d always want to bring out the darkness hidden within you. But he doesn’t know that you are you. There may be hundreds of thousands of Chen Gongs in this world, but there is only one Shen Qiao.’”
There were so many good quotes that I was struggling to pick a good one for the top!!! I actually really liked this volume compared to the previous ones, it was definitely a breath of fresh air from the rather stagnant story line. I have great hopes for the next two!
Spoilers Below!
Yan Wushi being knocked down a peg was actually amazing, and I was very pleased to see him needing to lean on someone else. Shen Qiao really is too kind, Yan Wushi doesn’t deserve it. I kinda liked the friendship happening between them, which surprised me because I’d hated Yan Wushi and only wished for Shen Qiao to be mean. Alas! Shen Qiao is just too kind a person.
I’m so happy to see Shen Qiao getting his strength back!!! I also adore the fact that he’s finally starting to be a little meaner and actually does learn from the things that happen to him. Still the kindest Daoist master, yet he’s finally giving these freaks a logical response…
I had a lot of fun reading this one. My slump from earlier is finally over I think, and I definitely think this volume helped. I took off a half star because I do still think there are too many repetitive issues. Shen Qiao still pukes blood all the time and something bad is constantly happening! This is also a personal issue, but my god the politics and regions are lowkey really confusing for me; read this series in one go and very close together and it’ll be better, I brought this on myself.
April 5, 2024
Meng Xi Shi’s “Thousand Autumns” third volume opens with Yan Wushi being attacked by five other martial artists who work together to defeat him. There is no honour in this type attack but it is effective, which leaves him so badly injured that he would most certainly have died if Shen Qiao’s had not rescued him.
Despite Yan Wushi’s betrayal in the previous volume, Shen Qiao saves him and spends the next section of the book, helping him heal. On the surface it makes no sense that Shen Qiao is willing to put himself in danger to save the man who handed him over to an enemy, but there is more than meets the eye. On a very basic level, Shen Qiao is a thoroughly decent man who sees the injustice in a single man, being attacked by many. That is in itself enough for him to act. On a deeper level, Shen Qiao senses that there is more to their relationship and so he is compelled to ensure that Yan Wushi is saved.
Since Yan Wushi is unconscious, Shen Qiao resorts to feeding him soup with his own mouth to prevent him from starving. This act is medically necessary and also subtly intimate and even vaguely sensual. “Shen Qiao was bent at the waist, gripping the alive-dead man’s chin as he pressed their mouths together… Beneath the blending sunlight she (Banna) could even see their tongues briefly intertwine. To be more precise, Shen Qiao’s tongue was prying apart Yan Wushi’s teeth, then pushing inside as far as it could go, all so that he could successfully pass the soup into Yan Wushi’s mouth.” (p. 58-59). The tenderness is obvious to Banna who is watching them. The irony is that Banna sees the scene for what it is whereas Shen Qiao is in denial.
A massive head injury, however, leads to Yan Wushi’s personality splitting into distinct parts, which allows the ensuing plot to explore his gentler and innocence side. Xie Lang is the name given to the personality who calls Shen Qiao “meiren gege” as a term of endearment and Xie Lang is very straightforward in declaring his affection. There is a touching scene where Xie Lang is choosing a shape for his tangren, which is sugary snack in the shape of animals. However, instead of asking for a sheep or cow, Xie Lang simply says, “I want you” (p. 205). On the surface, it is merely a shape twisted out of melted sugar, but it is clearly also a declaration of love. Whether Shen Qiao actually picks up on it is an open question, because he is embarrassed by it but when Xie Lang disappears after Yan Wushi’s head heals, Shen Qiao mourns the disappearance of his soft personality hidden deep within the cynical man because, “Perhaps deep within every stonehearted person was hidden a trace of gentleness, and even though it was infinitesimally small that gentleness had been allotted to Xie Lang…” (p. 219).
Much of the rest of the volume is concerned with adventures in caves with monsters, the treachery of Chen Gong and another duel which again leaves Shen Qiao seriously injured. This leads to a scene in a temple, where Yan Wushi decides to leave the wounded Shen Qiao in order to lure their enemies away. On the surface this looks like another betrayal, but his goodbye kiss implies otherwise both because of the gesture, but also because She Qiao recovers his strength so quickly afterwards that his enemy is confused and, “even suspected that Yan Wushi must have copied Hehuan Sect’s pair cultivation techniques.” (p. 335).
The last section of the volume focuses on palace intrigue and allows Shen Qiao to demonstrate that he has recovered and that he is willing to protect young children who are caught in the middle of this power struggle. Shen Qiao is a beautifully written character who finds strength in weakness and protects those in need. He is not perfect and accepts that life is a learning process. He is a very human character, precisely because he is not perfect.
Despite Yan Wushi’s betrayal in the previous volume, Shen Qiao saves him and spends the next section of the book, helping him heal. On the surface it makes no sense that Shen Qiao is willing to put himself in danger to save the man who handed him over to an enemy, but there is more than meets the eye. On a very basic level, Shen Qiao is a thoroughly decent man who sees the injustice in a single man, being attacked by many. That is in itself enough for him to act. On a deeper level, Shen Qiao senses that there is more to their relationship and so he is compelled to ensure that Yan Wushi is saved.
Since Yan Wushi is unconscious, Shen Qiao resorts to feeding him soup with his own mouth to prevent him from starving. This act is medically necessary and also subtly intimate and even vaguely sensual. “Shen Qiao was bent at the waist, gripping the alive-dead man’s chin as he pressed their mouths together… Beneath the blending sunlight she (Banna) could even see their tongues briefly intertwine. To be more precise, Shen Qiao’s tongue was prying apart Yan Wushi’s teeth, then pushing inside as far as it could go, all so that he could successfully pass the soup into Yan Wushi’s mouth.” (p. 58-59). The tenderness is obvious to Banna who is watching them. The irony is that Banna sees the scene for what it is whereas Shen Qiao is in denial.
A massive head injury, however, leads to Yan Wushi’s personality splitting into distinct parts, which allows the ensuing plot to explore his gentler and innocence side. Xie Lang is the name given to the personality who calls Shen Qiao “meiren gege” as a term of endearment and Xie Lang is very straightforward in declaring his affection. There is a touching scene where Xie Lang is choosing a shape for his tangren, which is sugary snack in the shape of animals. However, instead of asking for a sheep or cow, Xie Lang simply says, “I want you” (p. 205). On the surface, it is merely a shape twisted out of melted sugar, but it is clearly also a declaration of love. Whether Shen Qiao actually picks up on it is an open question, because he is embarrassed by it but when Xie Lang disappears after Yan Wushi’s head heals, Shen Qiao mourns the disappearance of his soft personality hidden deep within the cynical man because, “Perhaps deep within every stonehearted person was hidden a trace of gentleness, and even though it was infinitesimally small that gentleness had been allotted to Xie Lang…” (p. 219).
Much of the rest of the volume is concerned with adventures in caves with monsters, the treachery of Chen Gong and another duel which again leaves Shen Qiao seriously injured. This leads to a scene in a temple, where Yan Wushi decides to leave the wounded Shen Qiao in order to lure their enemies away. On the surface this looks like another betrayal, but his goodbye kiss implies otherwise both because of the gesture, but also because She Qiao recovers his strength so quickly afterwards that his enemy is confused and, “even suspected that Yan Wushi must have copied Hehuan Sect’s pair cultivation techniques.” (p. 335).
The last section of the volume focuses on palace intrigue and allows Shen Qiao to demonstrate that he has recovered and that he is willing to protect young children who are caught in the middle of this power struggle. Shen Qiao is a beautifully written character who finds strength in weakness and protects those in need. He is not perfect and accepts that life is a learning process. He is a very human character, precisely because he is not perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2024
I love this book more every time a new volume comes out. It's so good.
At this point, I can't be surprised that Shen Qiao steals the show--he's coming into his own & because he is, in many ways, on his own he has to make a lot of tough decisions. At the beginning, when he was blind and weak and poor, he had to find his inner strength, find his Dao, and then rebuild. Now, he's embroiled himself in imperial politics & he's trying to balance smart political choices against his personal morality.
Shen Quao reflects to himself, at one point, "Saving one family was easy. Saving all the people of this world was hard," and yeah, that seems obvious, but the application here is fairly sophisticated and the way Shen Qiao treats Yan Wushi is the perfect example. Shen Qiao sees Yan Wushi clearly; he remembers every betrayal and every insult; but he believes that Yan Wushi has the strength and the smarts to keep the empire safe and prosperous. Yan Wushi's enemies might be individually righteous (the biggest threat here is a Buddhist monk), but they're offering their support to a Crown Prince who's a political liability. Shen Qiao sees the bigger picture, so he saves Yan Wushi and fights the monk.
In the end this volume in particular ends up being a really compelling and really relatable story about Shen Qiao becoming a better person while also, somehow, becoming more politically savvy. He's constantly thinking about what he can learn from Yan Wushi--and applying his lessons, which can be pretty cold and calculating--while holding onto his core of goodness, refusing to be blinded by resentment or bogged down by personal grievances.
Yan Wushi himself is badly injured for most of this volume, which leaves him dependent on Shen Qiao. It's nice because it gives Shen Qiao the aforementioned opportunities for growth, but also because the author indulges in some pure tropey goodness. Yan Wushi's got a head injury which manifests itself in multiple personalities & some of them are very sweet. Super fun.
At this point, I can't be surprised that Shen Qiao steals the show--he's coming into his own & because he is, in many ways, on his own he has to make a lot of tough decisions. At the beginning, when he was blind and weak and poor, he had to find his inner strength, find his Dao, and then rebuild. Now, he's embroiled himself in imperial politics & he's trying to balance smart political choices against his personal morality.
Shen Quao reflects to himself, at one point, "Saving one family was easy. Saving all the people of this world was hard," and yeah, that seems obvious, but the application here is fairly sophisticated and the way Shen Qiao treats Yan Wushi is the perfect example. Shen Qiao sees Yan Wushi clearly; he remembers every betrayal and every insult; but he believes that Yan Wushi has the strength and the smarts to keep the empire safe and prosperous. Yan Wushi's enemies might be individually righteous (the biggest threat here is a Buddhist monk), but they're offering their support to a Crown Prince who's a political liability. Shen Qiao sees the bigger picture, so he saves Yan Wushi and fights the monk.
In the end this volume in particular ends up being a really compelling and really relatable story about Shen Qiao becoming a better person while also, somehow, becoming more politically savvy. He's constantly thinking about what he can learn from Yan Wushi--and applying his lessons, which can be pretty cold and calculating--while holding onto his core of goodness, refusing to be blinded by resentment or bogged down by personal grievances.
Yan Wushi himself is badly injured for most of this volume, which leaves him dependent on Shen Qiao. It's nice because it gives Shen Qiao the aforementioned opportunities for growth, but also because the author indulges in some pure tropey goodness. Yan Wushi's got a head injury which manifests itself in multiple personalities & some of them are very sweet. Super fun.
January 21, 2024
Are Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao's personalities rubbing off on each other? Unexpected tenderness from Yan Wushi and sassy Shen Qiao?
S a s s y?
A Qiao? Give. Me. More.
I love Meng Xi Shi's writing, it transports you into this cinematic experience filled with falling petals, rising suns and raging winds. I will say though that this volume sees Shen Qiao through sky-shattering, ocean-parting leaps and bounds with his martial arts, and the purple prose got me a little cross-eyed towards the end.
I love Meng Xi Shi's writing, it transports you into this cinematic experience filled with falling petals, rising suns and raging winds. I will say though that this volume sees Shen Qiao through sky-shattering, ocean-parting leaps and bounds with his martial arts, and the purple prose got me a little cross-eyed towards the end.
November 24, 2025
omg, Thousand Autumns Vol 3… my heart is irreversibly stolen by Yan Wushi and Shei. 💀💖 The tension between them is off the charts—every subtle look, every brush of hands, every word left unsaid is basically a sword through my chest. 🗡️🥹
Yan Wushi’s brooding, calculating energy colliding with Shei’s fiery, stubborn heart? Yes queen, this is the slow burn we live for. And the emotional manipulation + hidden care moments? I literally cannot breathe. That scene where Shei confronts Yan Wushi about his silence but ends up softening in his presence? I was screaming internally. 😭🔥
Plot-wise, the intrigue ramps up with political tension and family pressure, but honestly, the drama between Yan Wushi and Shei is the main course. I am obsessed with:
Yan Wushi’s secretly protective streak 🫣
Shei’s stubbornness slowly melting under his gaze 🥵
The ending cliffhanger—I need Vol 4 immediately, my soul cannot wait. 💔
Overall: 4/5 stars. This volume is all about pining, tension, and messy feelings, perfect for anyone who lives for brooding tsundere energy + secret obsession vibes. 🥹💘
Yan Wushi’s brooding, calculating energy colliding with Shei’s fiery, stubborn heart? Yes queen, this is the slow burn we live for. And the emotional manipulation + hidden care moments? I literally cannot breathe. That scene where Shei confronts Yan Wushi about his silence but ends up softening in his presence? I was screaming internally. 😭🔥
Plot-wise, the intrigue ramps up with political tension and family pressure, but honestly, the drama between Yan Wushi and Shei is the main course. I am obsessed with:
Yan Wushi’s secretly protective streak 🫣
Shei’s stubbornness slowly melting under his gaze 🥵
The ending cliffhanger—I need Vol 4 immediately, my soul cannot wait. 💔
Overall: 4/5 stars. This volume is all about pining, tension, and messy feelings, perfect for anyone who lives for brooding tsundere energy + secret obsession vibes. 🥹💘
February 8, 2024
Definitely enjoyed it a lot more than the previous volume, mainly because Yan Wushi was a lot more present. I really liked getting to know his vulnerable, softer sides, though I doubt we'll see them again... Shen Qiao is still a wonderful protagonist too.
Luckily, there were fewer fight scenes here, but there were still part that I skipped (same issue with numerous inconsequential side characters).
Luckily, there were fewer fight scenes here, but there were still part that I skipped (same issue with numerous inconsequential side characters).
May 8, 2025
واقعا اوج مجموعه بود این جلد. همه چیز در بهترین حالت. فایتهای اپیکی که اصلا حوصلهام رو سر نبرد، شخصیتهای بامزه یان ووشی، رشد شخصیتی و قدرت شنچیائو و پیشروی پلات تمیز، این جلد رو به هیجانانگیزترین بخش داستان تبدیل کرد .
June 3, 2024
My fave of the series so far. Yet again there is drawn out fight scenes and politics i dont really understand, but less of it and im starting to some w h a t understand. I really liked the middle bit alot, but man did the last 40 pages d r a g. Still i love shen qiao and would follow him into anything so onto book 4 i go. Im just excited that its so much shorter than this monster of a book. 4.25
September 2, 2024
ੈ✩‧₊˚ ➵ 4/5 ✧
shen qiao : beautiful daoist swordmaster, virtuous cultivator, qi fengge's most prized pupil, single father of two
shen qiao : beautiful daoist swordmaster, virtuous cultivator, qi fengge's most prized pupil, single father of two
March 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I'm on a roll. These books keep getting better with every new volume. I wanna finish them, but at the same time, I don't want them to be over. 😭🥲
I'm on a roll. These books keep getting better with every new volume. I wanna finish them, but at the same time, I don't want them to be over. 😭🥲
December 12, 2024
4.75 stars
The tables turned in this volume. Yan Wushi was brought to the brink of death through his fight against five material arts masters while the once fragile Shen Qiao made huge progress with his cultivation. Shen Qiao nursed a Yan Wushi back to health, all the while dealing with his split personalities (Xie Wei, A-Yan, the violent one and the actual Yan Wushi) and he protected him more than once from his enemies.
The split personality part was absolutely fabulous to read. The Wushi-shenanigans in combination with Shen Qiao’s inner voice made me laugh a lot. Also, Yan Wushi getting jealous of himself without even realising why he as the whole person wished to be Shen Qiao’s favourite - what a ridiculous man. Seeing his different personal traits becoming personified for a while made me appreciate him much more than in the previous volumes. Admittedly, he’s got still some grovelling to do. Also, I’m not sure how easy it will be to win Shen Qiao over when the latter evades personal contact as much as possible.
On a side note: Did anyone else realise that we never got to see his feelings or thoughts on that kiss in the dilapidated Buddhist mountain temple? Meng Xi Shi is a sneaky one. Lol.
It was sad to see the political happenings in the end. We only got short glimpses of the prince of Qi but he seemed like another genuinely good person. I’m much less of such a person and might have cheered when Shen Qiao finally took revenge for his Daoist monk brother and the little disciple.
Shen Qiao has become much more worldly in this volume and I laughed when that was described as ‘he became much more like Yan Wushi’. Yes, he lost some innocence but he gathered so much knowledge about the real world and he just grew into himself.
P.S.: I can’t stand Chen Gong and his big ego has got on my nerves from the moment we first met him. He feels like a barnacle us readers can’t get rid of. 😅
The tables turned in this volume. Yan Wushi was brought to the brink of death through his fight against five material arts masters while the once fragile Shen Qiao made huge progress with his cultivation. Shen Qiao nursed a Yan Wushi back to health, all the while dealing with his split personalities (Xie Wei, A-Yan, the violent one and the actual Yan Wushi) and he protected him more than once from his enemies.
The split personality part was absolutely fabulous to read. The Wushi-shenanigans in combination with Shen Qiao’s inner voice made me laugh a lot. Also, Yan Wushi getting jealous of himself without even realising why he as the whole person wished to be Shen Qiao’s favourite - what a ridiculous man. Seeing his different personal traits becoming personified for a while made me appreciate him much more than in the previous volumes. Admittedly, he’s got still some grovelling to do. Also, I’m not sure how easy it will be to win Shen Qiao over when the latter evades personal contact as much as possible.
On a side note: Did anyone else realise that we never got to see his feelings or thoughts on that kiss in the dilapidated Buddhist mountain temple? Meng Xi Shi is a sneaky one. Lol.
It was sad to see the political happenings in the end. We only got short glimpses of the prince of Qi but he seemed like another genuinely good person. I’m much less of such a person and might have cheered when Shen Qiao finally took revenge for his Daoist monk brother and the little disciple.
Shen Qiao has become much more worldly in this volume and I laughed when that was described as ‘he became much more like Yan Wushi’. Yes, he lost some innocence but he gathered so much knowledge about the real world and he just grew into himself.
P.S.: I can’t stand Chen Gong and his big ego has got on my nerves from the moment we first met him. He feels like a barnacle us readers can’t get rid of. 😅
July 26, 2024
SHOUT OUT TO:
- The Journey to the Centre of the Earth moment.
- That one scene for making me cry ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼
- Every tiny Yan Wushi catching feelings crumb.
- XIE LING 😭🥹
5⭐️ No 🌶️
- The Journey to the Centre of the Earth moment.
- That one scene for making me cry ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼
- Every tiny Yan Wushi catching feelings crumb.
- XIE LING 😭🥹
5⭐️ No 🌶️
March 12, 2025
4.5☆
Just like the previous book in the series, I really enjoyed this installment. The battles were once again incredible and even more exciting than before, Shen Qiao became even more awesome and this book had a lot more to offer as far a political intrigue. However, while I did very much enjoy this installment, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous book. There were several points in the story that seemed to drag a bit for me and brought down the overall pacing.
My least favorite part of the book was the whole section involving Ruoqiang. Though there was a lot of action going on, I didn't find it all that interesting or engaging. It was less intriguing for me to see the character fighting against beasts rather than other martial artists. Though there were obviously some very important plot points here, I personally just had a harder time engaging with this part of the story. I also absolutely cannot stand Chen Gong either.
Speaking of Chen Gong, I find his whole character and arc to be a little unbelievable and ridiculous. I get that he's supposed to be a great prodigy with essentially a photographic memory, but I find it pretty absurd that he suddenly went from a nobody street urchin with no martial training whatsoever to suddenly being a first rate martial artist in the jianghu out of nowhere. True, he had the benefit of the Zhuyang Strategy, but to me that just makes the Zhuyang Strategy seem like a cheat. By extension, this also somewhat lowers my opinion of Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi's martial prowess since they both used the Zhuyang Strategy to advance as well. This makes it seem like they weren't able to progress as a result of their own efforts and talent but rather thanks to something akin to a cheat code if someone like Chen Gong can use it to make so much progress out of nowhere. I also find it difficult to swallow that Chen Gong suddenly became someone of such high status when he had no connections and no noble blood at all. Maybe its my lack of understanding of how things worked in ancient China, but it seems very strange to me that a common thug living on the streets who couldn't even afford to feed himself suddenly became a duke almost overnight.
All of that aside, I really enjoyed this volume as a whole. It was really interesting to see the interactions between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi. In particular, I really enjoyed Xie Ling. I wish that there could be more of him in Yan Wushi, although I feel like this volume gave me some glimmer of hope that Yan Wushi might improve and grow as a character in the future. Already, I think that Shen Qiao has had amazing character development as a result of his personal hardships and involvement with Yan Wushi. Though his encounters with the Huanyue Sect Leader have been a largely negative experience for Shen Qiao, I do think that Yan Wushi has broadened Shen Qiao's horizons and helped him become a stronger person overall. Though Shen Qiao is still kindhearted and gentle, he is no longer naive and blindly trusting of those who are unworthy of his faith in them. I really love that Shen Qiao has learned to stand up for himself and to be more shrewd in his dealings with others. This has made him a much more interesting character and a stronger person as well. More and more Shen Qiao has become my favorite thing about this story. I truly hope that he is able to influence Yan Wushi in a similar way so that he also has more interesting character growth. I don't want to see them change entirely so that they no longer resemble the people they once were, but I really like the idea of each of them growing and ultimately becoming stronger as a result of their influence on each other.
Another thing that I appreciated about this volume was how it had more political intrigue and higher stakes as a result of that. Things definitely took an unexpected turn with the current political situation and I'm really curious to see where things go from here. At this point, I'm not sure who Shen Qiao and/or Yan Wushi might end up lending their support to or what might happen as a result. There is also still the looming threat of the Göktürks as well. This situation is clearly a powder-keg waiting to explode at any moment, and I can't wait to see how things progress in the next volume.
On a side note, I found a lot of typos and grammatical errors in this book, more so than I usually see in Seven Seas' releases. At times, these mistakes made the story somewhat difficult to follow. Many of the side character's names were repeatedly misspelled or jumbled, making it hard to keep track of who was who. All in all, I found this to be mostly just a minor annoyance but I thought that it was still an issue worth mentioning in this review. Of course, this issue doesn't reflect on the story or the author at all, but rather on Seven Seas' poor editing.
Just like the previous book in the series, I really enjoyed this installment. The battles were once again incredible and even more exciting than before, Shen Qiao became even more awesome and this book had a lot more to offer as far a political intrigue. However, while I did very much enjoy this installment, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous book. There were several points in the story that seemed to drag a bit for me and brought down the overall pacing.
My least favorite part of the book was the whole section involving Ruoqiang. Though there was a lot of action going on, I didn't find it all that interesting or engaging. It was less intriguing for me to see the character fighting against beasts rather than other martial artists. Though there were obviously some very important plot points here, I personally just had a harder time engaging with this part of the story. I also absolutely cannot stand Chen Gong either.
Speaking of Chen Gong, I find his whole character and arc to be a little unbelievable and ridiculous. I get that he's supposed to be a great prodigy with essentially a photographic memory, but I find it pretty absurd that he suddenly went from a nobody street urchin with no martial training whatsoever to suddenly being a first rate martial artist in the jianghu out of nowhere. True, he had the benefit of the Zhuyang Strategy, but to me that just makes the Zhuyang Strategy seem like a cheat. By extension, this also somewhat lowers my opinion of Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi's martial prowess since they both used the Zhuyang Strategy to advance as well. This makes it seem like they weren't able to progress as a result of their own efforts and talent but rather thanks to something akin to a cheat code if someone like Chen Gong can use it to make so much progress out of nowhere. I also find it difficult to swallow that Chen Gong suddenly became someone of such high status when he had no connections and no noble blood at all. Maybe its my lack of understanding of how things worked in ancient China, but it seems very strange to me that a common thug living on the streets who couldn't even afford to feed himself suddenly became a duke almost overnight.
All of that aside, I really enjoyed this volume as a whole. It was really interesting to see the interactions between Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi. In particular, I really enjoyed Xie Ling. I wish that there could be more of him in Yan Wushi, although I feel like this volume gave me some glimmer of hope that Yan Wushi might improve and grow as a character in the future. Already, I think that Shen Qiao has had amazing character development as a result of his personal hardships and involvement with Yan Wushi. Though his encounters with the Huanyue Sect Leader have been a largely negative experience for Shen Qiao, I do think that Yan Wushi has broadened Shen Qiao's horizons and helped him become a stronger person overall. Though Shen Qiao is still kindhearted and gentle, he is no longer naive and blindly trusting of those who are unworthy of his faith in them. I really love that Shen Qiao has learned to stand up for himself and to be more shrewd in his dealings with others. This has made him a much more interesting character and a stronger person as well. More and more Shen Qiao has become my favorite thing about this story. I truly hope that he is able to influence Yan Wushi in a similar way so that he also has more interesting character growth. I don't want to see them change entirely so that they no longer resemble the people they once were, but I really like the idea of each of them growing and ultimately becoming stronger as a result of their influence on each other.
Another thing that I appreciated about this volume was how it had more political intrigue and higher stakes as a result of that. Things definitely took an unexpected turn with the current political situation and I'm really curious to see where things go from here. At this point, I'm not sure who Shen Qiao and/or Yan Wushi might end up lending their support to or what might happen as a result. There is also still the looming threat of the Göktürks as well. This situation is clearly a powder-keg waiting to explode at any moment, and I can't wait to see how things progress in the next volume.
On a side note, I found a lot of typos and grammatical errors in this book, more so than I usually see in Seven Seas' releases. At times, these mistakes made the story somewhat difficult to follow. Many of the side character's names were repeatedly misspelled or jumbled, making it hard to keep track of who was who. All in all, I found this to be mostly just a minor annoyance but I thought that it was still an issue worth mentioning in this review. Of course, this issue doesn't reflect on the story or the author at all, but rather on Seven Seas' poor editing.
January 26, 2025
It's gettin kinda borin now
July 15, 2024
absolutely incredible
probably my favourite volume so far
the political intrigue?! the betrayal(s)!!! the figments of love?! THE HEARTBREAK?!
fantastic.
probably my favourite volume so far
the political intrigue?! the betrayal(s)!!! the figments of love?! THE HEARTBREAK?!
fantastic.
January 13, 2025
Every time you think it can't get worse, it does get worse, and every time you think Yan Wushi might actually be kind to Shen Qiao you slowly realize that you too need to learn, just like Shen Qiao, to not always expect that kindness will meet kindness.
That being said however, we are making progress. Shen Qiao seems to slowly lessen the number of his enemies (purely through sheer will and murder) while Yan Wushi doesnt really care for his enemies nor his own existence it seems.
One can't pick up this series and expect (steamy) romance. It's mostly wuxia, lots of fighting and running from fighting, sprinkled with politics much influenced by sects, and you happen to get some Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao content here and there by pure accident.
I love this pacing - there is some romance and much tension but its subtle and not the main course. I also think the slow burn but fast pace is very well done and even thus as a third novel, it keeps doing it in a good way that keeps it interesting but doesn't suddenly abandon the tone that was set in precious novels.
Next up: volume 4!
That being said however, we are making progress. Shen Qiao seems to slowly lessen the number of his enemies (purely through sheer will and murder) while Yan Wushi doesnt really care for his enemies nor his own existence it seems.
One can't pick up this series and expect (steamy) romance. It's mostly wuxia, lots of fighting and running from fighting, sprinkled with politics much influenced by sects, and you happen to get some Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao content here and there by pure accident.
I love this pacing - there is some romance and much tension but its subtle and not the main course. I also think the slow burn but fast pace is very well done and even thus as a third novel, it keeps doing it in a good way that keeps it interesting but doesn't suddenly abandon the tone that was set in precious novels.
Next up: volume 4!
January 7, 2025
TE QUIERO MUCHO, SHEN QIAO, OK?
January 5, 2024
Thousand Autumns, the story of Shen Qiao, the pure and good Daoist cultivator, and Yan Wushi, the leader of the demonic cultivation sect, set in imaginary 6th century Chinese empire has reached its third volume. It continues where the previous one left, Shen Qiao rushing to save Yan Wushi from an ambush he couldn’t possibly survive—only to arrive too late.
Yan Wushi’s enemies learn that they and Shen Qiao are on opposing sides politically too, no matter what Shen Qiao thinks of Yan Wushi personally. Reluctantly, they give his body to Shen Qiao who has now made powerful enemies. But Yan Wushi is not dead.
Tides have turned for the two men. It’s now Shen Qiao’s turn to nurture Yan Wushi back to health. It’s not an easy task and comes with a curious twist. A head injury surfaces multiple personalities in Yan Wushi, most of whom are more likable than the man himself. Some tender feelings rise, but those hoping for a proper romance are again disappointed. In the end, the original personality returns and Yan Wushi pulls yet another shitty move, leaving Shen Qiao to deal with the political ramifications of what his alleged death has caused.
This was a great volume. Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi spent most of it together, and even though there weren’t many scenes from the latter’s point of view, there were some insights into him. Mostly though, it’s still the story of Shen Qiao growing to become the most powerful martial artist in the realm. There were even more battle scenes than before where he fights against an overwhelming enemy, surprising them with his skills. The volume ends after one such scene, not quite with a cliffhanger but leaving everything open-ended. It’s impossible to tell where the story is going from here, but I’ll definitely read on to find out.
Yan Wushi’s enemies learn that they and Shen Qiao are on opposing sides politically too, no matter what Shen Qiao thinks of Yan Wushi personally. Reluctantly, they give his body to Shen Qiao who has now made powerful enemies. But Yan Wushi is not dead.
Tides have turned for the two men. It’s now Shen Qiao’s turn to nurture Yan Wushi back to health. It’s not an easy task and comes with a curious twist. A head injury surfaces multiple personalities in Yan Wushi, most of whom are more likable than the man himself. Some tender feelings rise, but those hoping for a proper romance are again disappointed. In the end, the original personality returns and Yan Wushi pulls yet another shitty move, leaving Shen Qiao to deal with the political ramifications of what his alleged death has caused.
This was a great volume. Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi spent most of it together, and even though there weren’t many scenes from the latter’s point of view, there were some insights into him. Mostly though, it’s still the story of Shen Qiao growing to become the most powerful martial artist in the realm. There were even more battle scenes than before where he fights against an overwhelming enemy, surprising them with his skills. The volume ends after one such scene, not quite with a cliffhanger but leaving everything open-ended. It’s impossible to tell where the story is going from here, but I’ll definitely read on to find out.
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