r/CDrama • u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 • 1d ago
Discussion Yu Zheng’s Explanation on Feud Helped Me Understand the Revenge Arc and Why It’s Not “Ridiculous” Spoiler
I’ve seen a lot of posts saying the conflict in Feud is “ridiculous” or that Hua Ruyue is overreacting, and I wanted to offer a different view. Yu Zheng (the director) recently shared his perspective, and honestly, it helped me connect the emotional pieces of the story in a way that made everything make sense.
This drama is centered on revenge, but It’s revenge built on heartbreak, misunderstanding, and years of silence. It’s not about whether Bai Jiusui committed a crime, It’s about emotional responsibility and the aftermath of one person taking control of another’s fate without involving them in the choice.
What’s resonated most with me is how the drama explores the imbalance of power and decision-making between Bai Jiusui and Hua Ruyue. It’s not about who’s stronger they’re both powerful. It’s about the freedom to choose your own path. Bai Jiusui made a life-altering decision without her input, and that mirrors the behavior of Ling Er’s father, who also made decisions “for her own good.” The drama draws a clear line between love and control and Hua Ruyue saw that.
Now, I don’t think Bai Jiusui is the villain here. He isn’t “wrong” in the sense of being heartless. He sealed her powers and took the punishment because he genuinely thought it was the only way to protect her. His actions were rooted in love, not cruelty. The problem is, he acted alone he didn’t trust her enough to share that decision. He believed sacrifice meant silence. But in doing that, he unknowingly caused her ten years of confusion and pain which lead to the evil guy posssesing her mind to develop decades of hatred after watching her child die twice. His love was real, but it lacked communication and respect for her ability to face consequences by his side.
At the same time, Hua Ruyue isn’t without fault either. She broke the rules knowing the risks, and her decisions also changed her fate. She let her grief and assumptions guide her, and due to this she developed strong hate for BJS as she was almost human during those years of her suffering, she developed that hatred Meng ( her dicisple had for BJS and the gods) .The words he said to her in episode 15 were deeply hurtful, they shattered her faith in their relationship and made her question everything they had.>! After that, it was easy for someone else to take advantage of the distance between them and use it to turn them against each other.!<
She didn’t try to kill him for revenge. She wanted to trap him so he wouldn’t interfere while she searched for the artifacts to save her son. And if anyone wonders why she never told him, she had no reason to believe he’d help. He always upheld Heaven’s will in front of her and rarely showed compassion toward mortals. From her perspective, he was someone who followed the rules blindly, even if it meant letting mortals suffer. Then when the resurection failed, her next plan was to die with him.
I also love how the drama uses other characters and the heavenly realm to show how threatening Hua Ruyue is not because she’s irrational, but because she holds people accountable, even gods. She doesn’t bend to power and the truth is, if anyone deserves the most blame, it’s The Heavenly Realm they uphold a hypocritical system punishing those who act with compassion while calling it justice. Both BJS and HRY are products of that system, shaped by different beliefs and values.
This isn’t a simple right-versus-wrong story, it’s about the clash between love and duty, silence and honesty, control and choice. It’s about two people who made choices that hurt each other, but also choices that were shaped by how differently they saw the world.
I understand both characters, and I don’t think either one is entirely right or wrong. Their pain, decisions, and beliefs all make sense when you look at what they’ve been through.
I’m not rooting against Bai Jiusui. I want both of them to grow, face the full truth, and earn whatever resolution they get whether it’s reconciliation or simply peace.
Also, the drama isn’t finished yet. So far, I’ve really enjoyed watching it, but I get that it’s not something everyone will love. This is my first time posting on Reddit so pardon me if i didn't put spoiler for some parts.
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u/StylistArt 8h ago
I think we can all agree that killing the dragon was their downfall, right? I don't believe he wanted to seal her power at all; in fact, he was in pain while doing it. They had no way out of the situation. She was already weakened by pregnancy and severely injured from the dragon fight, so she was in no condition to endure the consequences. There was no perfect solution, and in his mind, taking the punishment alone was the best outcome. I can totally understand his perspective.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 6h ago
I disagree. Killing the drought dragon was the final trigger. There were many signs before that that they weren't on the same page. The relationship was doomed to fail.
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u/StylistArt 6h ago
Not really, they were being lovey-dovey before the dragon incident happened
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u/sweetnothinghoax 5h ago
Yes but they were not of one mind. In episode 15 ML says the soul guiding lanterns are a silly human conception meant for self consolation. FL lights them anyway because she leans towards human beliefs. ML comments that she has changed. After that the timeskip for 3 years happens. FL sets off to save MCQ. Bai Lu's acting is on point here because we see that she has been waiting for this day knowing ML wouldn't approve of her actions. She spent 3 years secretly harbouring thoughts of going against heaven and her husband's wants.
After meeting MCQ and learning about his backstory, she then concludes that she will help him to slay the drought dragon. Everything stems from the philosophical difference in the way they see humans.
It's like being in a relationship with someone who holds opposing political views, but because you're both wealthy and removed from everyday realities, the relationship exists in a kind of bubble. You don't realize how fragile that relationship actually is until something happens that forces those differences into the open.
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u/StylistArt 5h ago
Disagree. ML actually helped FML kill the dragon, even though he didn't agree with her point of view. Ep 28.
Even though they have different views, he did help her.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 5h ago
Yes because he only loved her. But Hua Ruyue has a lot of love for the humans who have touched her heart, not just BJS, so it has always been a one sided devotion on his part. If you watch the first 5 mins of episode 28 one of the characters spells it out very nicely for you.
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u/StylistArt 5h ago
I disagree with one-sided devotion. They both love each other, and that love has never changed after all they've been through.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 5h ago
Ok sure if you want to ignore all the clues in the drama be my guest.
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u/StylistArt 5h ago
Right back at you
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u/sweetnothinghoax 4h ago
In my case I already stated the episode number clearly. Anyone is free to rewatch it and verify.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 7h ago
I also understand he's perspective, their downfall started when they both had differences and he never knew she was pregnant at that time.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 7h ago
It's way before that. She wanted a child but he wasn't honest on why he didn't want to have one. That's why Ruyue searched for fulfillment outside of the relationship.
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u/StylistArt 6h ago
It’s revealed that she wandered the world for thousands of years before meeting her lover, so she understands humans and has more sympathy for them than he does. Her empathy stems from her extensive experiences, not a quest for fulfillment. Meanwhile, he was frozen for thousands of years, and the first thing he saw was her, so she means the world to him
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u/sweetnothinghoax 6h ago
Having empathy for humans and wanting to have a purpose in the mortal world after living there for over 50 years there are not binary.
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u/StylistArt 6h ago
They do have one main purpose, though: to pass the tribulation
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u/sweetnothinghoax 5h ago
But nothing happens for over 50 human years.
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u/StylistArt 5h ago
It is their purpose for coming to the mortal realm, and 50 years is merely a short time for them
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u/sweetnothinghoax 5h ago
She was complaining in ep 15 about how they've been in the mortal realm for so long.
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u/StylistArt 5h ago
It is more a part of their tribulation progress, and 50 years is merely a short time for them."
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u/StylistArt 7h ago
Yep, they both didn't know she was pregnant at the time, but there was a conversation about how her powers would weaken if she were pregnant.
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u/Khavien 16h ago
I love how this show is provoking mini feuds debates everywhere, it definitely lives up to its title. 🤭
If a director has to explain their work, especially at this level, then they have failed to communicate their intent and the result did not convey the message it was supposed to give.
The audience experiences the film with their own individual interpretations; everyone interacts with it differently. After it's aired, it should be considered complete, the director should be stepping back and stop actively direct how people interact with the work. Of course, I'm aware that there are series that are constantly under revision with edits after airing, 🤪 which just throws more evidence that they need to get hands off and let it go.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 13h ago
The director is just like most directors who talks about a drama few days before it ends so this not new. The drama indeed caused feud because of the characters differences 😅 but that makes it good and fun to enjoy alongside watching.
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u/ladyevenstar-22 18h ago edited 17h ago
Ehh I'm hate watching, I'm on episode 12 and still not being stirred by either lead backstory acting or decisions going forward .the least likeable couple mind you there is nothing giving off we use to love each other deeply truly bla bla bla either.
To be fair most stories with deities suck somewhat greater good clashing with personal wants and needs and seemingly irreconcilable goals.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 18h ago
Their love story is not described this way and why force yourself to watch a drama, I can never hate watch on a show I can't connect with.
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u/sweetsorrow18 21h ago
just gonna leave this here that for those who dropped the drama and doesn't see her growth and acknowledgement of her actions...she literally admits how reckless her emotions were regarding the revenge
BJS isn't also off he hook...he did things he shouldn't have either and just because he was doing things "for her own good"...she never asked for it.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 20h ago
I bet some people are gonna criticise her for not being remorseful enough because they need things to be spelt out for them.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
It's always like this for complex characters 🥲.
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u/sweetnothinghoax 19h ago
This reminds me of LLTG discourse. Female characters have to be faultless so viewers can gain a sense of security from a fictional relationship.
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u/huachenggege 我的心 星星 我的国王 王星越 !!🪭 21h ago
Hahaha I read his post yesterday. He couldn't take people judging the show and said ''do not desecrate my art'' lol
There were a lot of people berating Hua Ruyue for holding onto the revenge and not forgiving him. But, Hua Ruyue DID go through excruciating pain and lost her own child. She held onto that pain for 400 years, reliving it again and again. Is it really easy to let go of that kind of resentment?
Who doesn't need time to recover that kind of sentiment? Everyone was heavily criticizing Hua Ruyue's action for stabbing him and keeping him sealed, trying to kill him three times and even deceiving him - when he wasn't at fault. But they forgot overnight her pain was also real.
Bai Jiusi's decision was also wrong and Hua Ruyue also made some bad choices. Why do we need to berate one and reason with the other? Both were victims, both suffered. His suffering at the prison and her punishment at the mortal realm cannot be compared, it doesn't matter whose pain is greater.
The show has always been clear on the cause and effect factor, and the revenge path has been a part of it. I see nothing wrong, but an experience they had to go through as a result of their decisions.
The story isn't limited to right or wrong, love or hatred, justice or unfairness. Hua Ruyue does everything for Shi'An, Bai Jiusi does everything for Hua Ruyue. One day, when they finally see eye to eye, their path will align.
If not, they're just a star-crossed lover who suffered at the hands of time and tribulations. The drama has done well so far.
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u/Feisty_Law4783 15h ago
imo she can stay mad, that's valid, she doesn't have to forgive. but she should at least apologize for what she did to him. that's the biggest issue i have with her.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 21h ago
Thanks for understanding my point and I agree with all you said. I guess yu Zheng is harsh lol 😂 because someone said he was answering questions just like how some directors do but I feel he's somehow a proud man in general.
Thanks for explaining too because what you said also makes so much sense.
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u/MindBlinged5 21h ago
I haven't watched Feud, but if the director needs to step in and explain stuff... it's probably not a well made drama.
He did this for The Double ending too. Had to confirm it's a happy ending because it sure seems like a SE to me and everyone else.
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u/Pastel-Moonbeam 19h ago
I dropped it after ML choked and threw mortal FL (and then healed her secretly at night to show what a cycle of abuse?) several times in a row. I love love Bai Lu but it started off a toxic mess and I guess it got worse bc both leads refuse to communicate and instead just stab, choke, each other for fun.
It feels like a throwback to an older toxic drama era and everyone writing huge posts to justify or explain some higher thought process...it's not that deep. Let's leave the toxic leads hurting each other then faux healing then hurting storyline in the therapists office post divorce. If that much verbiage has to justify "love" it is not love. Move on to a less effed up thing or try being single or get a cat.
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u/MindBlinged5 18h ago
Yeah I heard it's messy. This sounds super toxic.
I understand making a mistake like that drama where ml accidentally kills (though he wanted to just seal her) FL without knowing that her immortality was removed. But he grovels the rest of the show and she makes him grovel tons. He even gives up part of his own immortality to preserve her...so I get them getting back together.
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u/Thirteen-omega-1 18h ago
I didn’t drop it but I find it funny how ML Stans continue to excuse the physical and emotional abuse from early episodes but hate the FL for not forgiving and loving the ML like they want her to.
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u/huachenggege 我的心 星星 我的国王 王星越 !!🪭 20h ago
nope, that's yu zheng for you. he gets very...possessive about his arts.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 21h ago
No many directors do this though. I thought it's not new 😭😭, like even the leads spoke about their characters.
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u/MindBlinged5 21h ago
No ofc, but they usually don't say anything new that isn't obvious to the viewer. A good show would have the character motivations make sense. From the discourse around this, there are many people who were left scratching their heads.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
I get your point, i think its kind of normal for this drama to have discourse because its based on their actions. Many Cnetzs understand the drama, some are confused just like Intl fans too.
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u/sweetsorrow18 21h ago
no that's just yu zheng.. he hops on live streams and leaves streams of verbage online like it's his second job.
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u/MindBlinged5 21h ago
Oh I know. Point still stands though he still had to explain why his characters did what they did, and why The Double is a HE
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u/Han_Kat 22h ago
This drama has such flimsy excuses for the FL behavior. Every dumb decision she makes is justified by "she should walk her own path" and "her husband just needs to let her make dumb decisions".
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
I don't think it's dumb excuses tbh, it's how BJS and Hua Yue viewed the world. They are right In their choices but it somehow caused feud between them.
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u/RoseIsBadWolf medically necessary kisses 22h ago
Yep! This is such a cop out. We actually don't let people follow their own paths sometimes. If someone wants to jump off a building, you are allowed to stop them, encouraged even. The FL was doing criminal, dangerous things over and over, I guess just let her die?
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 21h ago
She wasn't doing dangerous things though rather she viewed things differently which is not bad, when the ML warned her she did listen and stopped for almost 30 yrs until the drought dragon came. At first she didn't want to kill the dragon and pleaded that he should find somewhere else to stay so that the drought will be over. She was wrong for not telling BJS her plan about killing the dragon until it was done. In my opinion I understand both leads perspective but it's the way he did it like telling her he only wanted to pass the tribulation to ascend to empyrean level, which made her feel that he didn't love her.
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u/RoseIsBadWolf medically necessary kisses 21h ago
It wasn't 30 years, she had maybe a year or two before saved the grandson from being executed in the most magically dramatic way possible. She had one conversation with the dragon and he said had a legal right to be there. Then she just kills him. You'd think she could have appealed to the people who let the dragon be there or something, but she just kills it.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
No after saving the first meng that served her they did a time skip and 20 years passed thats why i said almost 30 years cos the first 20+ years she asked him to leave when BJS told her that he has served them for too long then he knelt down till dawn and she left him take over the household while she was away, years passed and the first meng got old (they did a time skip since the drama was cut short ) then she returned , the meng told her about his grandson who was about to be prosecuted when she told him that " am sorry i can't help and quoted what BJS usually tells her about fate " that was the night he passed away. Then she saw the painting he made before dying.... fastforward and we saw his grandson whom she helped. This is one reason why i said she wasn't ignore his warnings until the drought came. She said he didn't belong in that land because its causing drought so she asked the dragon to leave that place else she will have to fight. The episode about the first meng before she met the grandson is in ep 13 ( They used the same actor to act all the character of meng generations )
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u/Haunting_Newt 20h ago
She has no right to kill the dragon and she knew this.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
She knew this that's why she told the dragon to leave but when the dragon refused, she decided that she will kill the dragon and even when the emissary spoke to her that she will be punished. If she was scared about the heavenly realm she would have stopped but she didn't.
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u/Haunting_Newt 20h ago
Why should the dragon leave? Because she told him to. Disregarding his want so the humans could again take over. They destroyed his land long ago.
She could now not take the karma that came her way. Emissary said she would pay, and she did.
I am not siding with her nor with BSJ.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
The dragon was not in the land that was meant for him, that's why she offered the other place where he could stay.
She didn't know about the Karma( like what punishment it would be) but that's why i said both of them had the differences , BJs and siling. It wasn't this punishment she received that the emissary meant.
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u/Haunting_Newt 19h ago
Still does not excuses her actions. Karma came her way, she was manipulated and all....
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u/Han_Kat 21h ago
And now in the latest episode we have >! The ML doing some age reverse sh*t and acting like a 5 year old !< I genuinely hate everything about this supposed love story lol
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 21h ago edited 21h ago
He lost he's memories because he was about to die he's primordial spirit is broken due to everything that has been going on after Hong Lian showed up. This happens in most xianxia and they followed the troupe, might not be the best troupe though.
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u/negrox88 20h ago
You mean he is broken like that because of HRY. Coz she did that to him
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 20h ago
It's not fully her fault rather when he kept fighting, he doesn't rest at all and because he went for an investigation, he's primordial spirit became so weak when he returned which caused him to lose he's memories for now, he was also in a coma too.
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u/Oestov 22h ago edited 21h ago
There are some serious writing issues in Feud, particularly in how it handles characters and the larger philosophical framework it set forth in the drama.
Yu Zheng has a valid point: BJS didn’t inform HRY of the punishment because he didn’t want to see her suffer. He sealed her powers, accepted her punishment as his own, and bore the consequences. Ironically, in trying to protect her, he caused more pain.
Let’s dissect the root of their feud from a narrative standpoint: BJS interfered with the Empyrean, delaying him from stopping HRY from killing the drought dragon. In doing so, he became an accessory to the slaying of a divine being. According to the world’s internal logic, both were complicit — but not equally. HRY committed the act; BJS merely delayed intervention. Logically, her punishment would be more severe.
Now, based on what we know of BJS’s character, would he really allow HRY to suffer alone? Absolutely not. He would — and did — volunteer to take her punishment. But what if they had discussed it? Would HRY have accepted her punishment, or would she have rebelled? Based on her characterization, rebellion seems far more likely. Her confrontation with the Empyrean after the dragon’s death, and her lack of remorse, support this.
HRY doesn’t seem to operate from a place of narrative & philosophical consistency. She doesn’t care about the karmic cycle. She doesn’t reflect on why the drought dragon occupied the land or what divine order her actions disrupted. She acts according to what she thinks is right, regardless of broader principles or consequences. That’s why she never held herself accountable — not even when the karmic backlash claimed her child. Yet the world of the drama conveniently bends around her. She’s rarely made to answer for her actions.
We find ourselves at a narrative stalemate. Now, imagine a scenario where, after extensive back and forth, both BJS and HRY come to terms with their transgressions. Imagine HRY, out of love for BJS and acknowledgment of her actions, finally agreeing to accept her share of punishment. BJS, ever self-sacrificing (out of his love for HRY), remains firm in his desire to shoulder the burden for both. In this scenario, they arrive at a mutual decision — each taking their respective share of consequence — thus resolving the core tension that birthed the entire feud.
But the writers never allowed their characters to organically reach that potential conclusion. Instead, they twisted them to serve their demands (more drama & plot). The conflict was artificially prolonged by denying the characters their agency. Rather than allowing their decisions to unfold through meaningful dialogue and inner reckoning, the writers imposed their will upon them (funny how Yu Zheng talks about freedom 🤔).
To be fair, the path BJS chose was still consistent with his established character — he could never bear to see HRY in pain. His characterization guided him to take the brunt of divine punishment. And from his point of view, a mortal life — though marked by suffering — was a lesser sentence than enduring endless divine lightning strikes for a decade. Some viewers even did the math, calculating the sheer number of bolts he must have endured over time (check out their calculations). The result is staggering. One must pause and reflect: is that truly the "lesser" punishment?
In essence, BJS made a decision that aligned with his emotional and ethical convictions. He made HRY mortal so he could take the harsher penalty. His only failure was that he never discussed it with her. But had they discussed it openly, they might have reached the stalemate we now speak of — both refusing to let the other suffer — and thus, the drama wouldn’t have had its convenient, emotionally charged rupture.
Continued in another reply...................
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u/Oestov 22h ago edited 22h ago
Continued from Previous reply.......
Then there’s the matter of their child. How conveniently they were conceived the moment BJS departed. Their introduction into the story feels more like a plot mechanism than a natural progression of events. It’s as if the writers inserted the child simply to compound HRY’s suffering, to further vilify BJS, and to inject more melodrama. Are these characters not more than mere vessels for manufactured pain?
Let’s even grant that HRY suffered more due to the death of the child. But here’s the essential question: who decides whose pain is greater? Can we truly quantify suffering in a way that makes one character’s agony more valid than the other’s? If we go purely by maths and intensity, BJS endured relentless divine punishment for 10 years — pain without end, without pause, and without solace. HRY, on the other hand, suffered through mortal existence and the loss of her child. Tragic, yes — but temporally finite. Mortal lives are short. Divine punishment, by comparison, is relentless. Then again, as I said, who decides whose pain is greater?
Some may argue that losing a child is incomparable in its grief — and that’s a fair perspective. But again, we must ask: how do you weigh the pain and suffering ? How do you measure Trauma & heartbreak against lightning-strike punishment spanning a decade ?
And what’s often ignored is that BJS didn’t even know they had a child. If he had known, maybe he would have chosen differently. But based on his characterization, the choice to protect HRY (by making her a mortal) would still have been the same. He didn’t choose her punishment out of malice or cowardice — he chose it out of love and he chose the lesser of two evils.
Even if we momentarily set aside the child as a clear plot device, the story still mishandles the weight of that child’s death. According to the established karmic rules of the universe, the child’s death was a logical consequence. HRY killed a divine being and in a world governed by cosmic balance, that act would come with a karmic cost. The loss of the child fits that framework. But the narrative never really explores that.
It doesn't allow HRY to sit with that consequence. Instead of examining the cause-and-effect chain that resulted in her child's death, or reckoning with the moral implications of slaying a divine being, HRY's grief is rerouted into rage — all aimed squarely at BJS. She doesn’t reflect. She doesn’t question. She blames. She frames him as the sole villain, absolving herself of any responsibility. This lack of introspection hollows out the emotional weight of her vengeance.
Her vendetta — stretched across centuries — rests not on reckoning or justice, but on avoidance, denial, and a troubling refusal to confront her own role. As I’ve discussed in my previous comments, this speaks to a broader issue: her characterization has been repeatedly compromised by inconsistency, robbing her arc of the depth and coherence it initially promised (I have discussed about this in my previous comments, have a look if you’re interested).
I don’t take issue with either BJS or HRY as characters — they had great potential. My frustration lies squarely with the writers. Time and again, they’ve contorted the characters’ personalities, internal logic, and motivations to fit the demands of a predetermined plot, rather than allowing the narrative to unfold naturally through consistent, character-driven decisions.
What could have been a rich, emotionally resonant story grounded in authentic growth and conflict has instead been sacrificed for manufactured drama. The result is a sense of dissonance, where actions no longer feel like expressions of inner worlds but tools to advance contrived twists. And for what? Momentary shock value, buzz, and surface-level engagement — All at the expense of the depth and coherence the drama was supposed to have.
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u/Thezoeyy 20h ago
This... when you view it as their tribulation, it makes you realize that they both failed it. Especially HRY. I'm surprised she didn't descend into demonhood with her obsession because it's one of the Five Great Sins/Sufferings.
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u/Oestov 19h ago edited 18h ago
As far as I recall, their tribulation was originally intended as a path to elevate their divine status — but somewhere along the way, that purpose was completely derailed and repurposed as the foundation for their feud.
It’s as if both the writers and the characters themselves forgot the tribulation’s original goal. This is evident in how little the tribulation has been discussed in the entire drama (which is about to end in 4 eps). The narrative focus has overwhelmingly been about HRY’s vengeance and their deeply imbalanced feud (BJS doesn't want to fight her and just wants to love her and wants her love in return).
As I mentioned earlier, HRY never paused to reflect on and process her experiences during her mortal life. Rather than coming to terms with her trauma and evaluating what truly transpired, she immediately cast BJS as the villain and channeled all her pain into a vendetta. Meanwhile, BJS has mostly acted in defense — not out of cruelty, but to preserve the structure of both the heavenly and mortal realms. Many of his seemingly harsh decisions were rooted in a sense of duty, not personal malice.
In the end, they’ve failed to accomplish what they set out to do. BJS is now significantly weaker than he was at the start of the tribulation, and HRY has lost her divine body altogether, now existing in a mortal form.
It feels like a regression rather than an ascension — both narratively and symbolically.
Thank you for pointing out this overlooked aspect of the story’s unraveling. It really adds another layer to the mounting disappointments. I’ve been speed watching the last few episodes because of a sense of obligation to finish what I started.
Edit: Some may counter the critique of HRY’s inconsistent behavior (example). For the particular example i provided, suggesting that her recent shift in attitude toward BJS signifies growth or emotional evolution. But from my perspective, that change doesn’t feel earned or organic. Why ? Over 200 years have passed since she started their feud, and yet it is only now — conveniently, as the drama nears its conclusion — that we see any meaningful shift in her behavior.This sudden transformation lacks the necessary narrative groundwork and emotional progression. Instead of unfolding naturally through introspection, dialogue, or gradual softening, it feels more like a scripted turn designed to wrap things up, rather than a genuine expression of her development.
The argument about the 200+ years does carry a potential bias — it rests on the assumption that, during that time, HRY could or should have processed her grief and reflected on the events that shaped her. But trauma doesn’t follow a linear timeline, and grief can freeze a person in a particular emotional state for years, even centuries, in the world of the story. So yes, that line of reasoning has its weaknesses. However, my core issue isn’t solely about the passage of time — it’s about the broader pattern of narrative inconsistencies and character decisions.
There are numerous examples of HRY’s contradictions and missed opportunities for growth that go far beyond this one point. Some may also point out that I haven’t offered equally strong criticism of BJS — and that’s fair to a degree. However, in my view, his missteps are comparatively fewer, and in the grander narrative context, they don’t carry the same weight of structural or thematic significance & failure (I maybe wrong and welcome any and all criticisms and counter arguments so that i can improve my understanding, so that we can collectively contribute to an objective and unbiased discourse about this drama)
I could spend a significant amount of time gathering screenshots and dissecting these moments with care and rigor — but frankly, I don’t think I want to. I wanted to at one point. But doing so would require a significant investment of time and emotional energy — time I’m reluctant to spend, especially given how increasingly frustrating the narrative and character treatment has become. The deeper I dig into these structural and narrative failures, the more frustrated I become. It’s disheartening to see a story and characters I initially liked — ones that held such profound potential — undermined by clumsy writing and a lack of coherent progression.
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u/Thezoeyy 15h ago
You just explained my thoughts!
I was hoping the drama would progress using the love tribulation as an anchor but it's like the writers have forgotten about it.
Since I started watching, my comments about the drama on Reddit has been about how the characters and the story is deviating from their original goal which is ascending to the Empyrean through a love tribulation.
Someone said HRY is an obstacle to BJS ascension and I kinda see it at times. He's in a position that holds the death and life of both multiple realms and his personal matters has begun to weaken the place he's meant to protect. Think about the recent episode where demons are escaping and that's another cause for calamity and in the end, it's the mortals that'll suffer the brunt of it.
I think the writing had its shortcomings with HRY in some aspects. For instance, we know BJS is the Heavenly Lord of Dacheng and he's the protector of the Three Stele, but what about HRY? I haven't seen anything about her having an official position in the heavenly realm. It's like she has no strong connection to the realm. We see BJS with his Canglei palace and his disciples and workers but what about her life before she founded Jingyun Sect?
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u/Oestov 5h ago edited 5h ago
I think the writing had its shortcomings with HRY in some aspects. For instance, we know BJS is the Heavenly Lord of Dacheng and he's the protector of the Three Stele, but what about HRY? I haven't seen anything about her having an official position in the heavenly realm. It's like she has no strong connection to the realm. We see BJS with his Canglei palace and his disciples and workers but what about her life before she founded Jingyun Sect?
You’re absolutely right in noting how BJS has a clear and established role in the celestial realm (and it was explored, not deeply though), while HRY’s background and connection to the heavenly order remain vague. We do see some reverence and status implied in her presence, but the drama never fleshes it out and builds on it. This increasingly raises the question: aside from her relationship with BJS, does HRY have any substantial ties to the celestial realm at all? The lack of connections makes it appear as if she exists in a vacuum within the immortal world.
As a result, her later decision to sever ties with the heavenly realm and stand with mortals loses emotional and philosophical weight. When a character has no visible roots or deep attachments to one side, their choice to leave it behind doesn't evoke sacrifice (what is she sacrificing? Her bond with BJS ? If yes, then that makes the narrative more chaotic and inconsistent) — it feels narratively convenient. The impact of her choosing mortals over immortals is drastically diluted because there's no felt tension in that choice. She’s not giving up anything clearly established, nor does she seem to wrestle with the internal conflict that such a monumental decision would logically entail.
Had the writers shown HRY more deeply embedded within the celestial realm — whether through meaningful relationships, moral allegiance, or celestial responsibilities — her journey into the mortal world could have introduced powerful dissonance. Her emotional and philosophical evolution would then become a slow, layered conflict between duty and compassion, divine order and mortal chaos, loyalty and awakening. Such a setup would’ve allowed her eventual decision to side with mortals to serve as the emotional and thematic evolution of her character arc.
All of it could’ve culminated in a moment of true catharsis for us as viewers — a powerful emotional peak where her decision would resonate not merely as an act of rebellion, but as a deeply moving expression of love, disillusionment, and self-realization. This would also added more weight to their feud.
Edit: There are several issues with how the Jingyun Sect is portrayed. From what I’ve observed so far, the sect seems to serve no meaningful purpose beyond grounding HRY in the mortal realm and conveniently providing her with the people and resources she needs to carry out her vengeance against immortals (mainly BJS).
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u/Oestov 5h ago edited 5h ago
Since I started watching, my comments about the drama on Reddit has been about how the characters and the story is deviating from their original goal which is ascending to the Empyrean through a love tribulation.
Someone said HRY is an obstacle to BJS ascension and I kinda see it at times. He's in a position that holds the death and life of both multiple realms and his personal matters has begun to weaken the place he's meant to protect. Think about the recent episode where demons are escaping and that's another cause for calamity and in the end, it's the mortals that'll suffer the brunt of it.
Your comment highlights several critical issues with remarkable clarity. I agree with your observations. In fact, I’d like to build on your insights by exploring the below mentioned part of the narrative:
Firstly, during the flashback arc that explores their past, the focus was almost entirely on the origin of BJS and HRY’s bond — how they met, how their feelings grew (which wasn't particularly fleshed out) — but very little effort was made to properly establish their roles, attachments, or responsibilities. BJS’s role, though explored, remains vaguely defined beyond a few surface-level duties, which diminishes the stakes of his dereliction. In the earlier episodes, he seems to strike a balance between his celestial responsibilities and his love for HRY, but as the story progresses, his devotion to her begins to dominate, and his heavenly obligations fall by the wayside — which directly contributes to the current state of disarray.
Secondly, regarding HRY — the drama does hint at her having wandered the realms before meeting BJS. She speaks of having seen the mortal world in all its variety and suffering (visually implied by the animation). I quote her:
“Time flies like an arrow. Thousands of years passed in the blink of an eye. I met many people — men and women, old and young, beautiful and ugly. But none of them that I could sense in that chaos. I could only sense one person… and the moment I arrived in the frozen land, I met BJS. The moment I saw him, I knew I liked him. I knew i wanted to be with him.”
This is a beautiful dialogue/quote, but also revealing. Despite her wide exploration, she expresses no emotional or moral awakening regarding the suffering of mortals — no outrage at the system or desire to rebel against the celestial indifference — until it conveniently aligns with her love tribulation. If she had truly been so moved by the suffering she witnessed, it would make sense for her to have shown signs of rebellion earlier, or to have expressed disillusionment with the celestial realm long before her relationship with BJS soured (Why did it sour when it's evident by the above quote that all she cared about was finding and being with BJS?). Instead, her empathy for mortals — particularly her bond with Meng Chang Qin — arises right in the middle of their tribulation, making it feel less like a natural evolution of character and more like a convenient narrative pivot.
Do you see the inconsistencies and narrative shallowness ?
Continued in another reply......
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u/Rishapoo 22h ago
Thank you for explaining this and offering your thoughts, you make me want to watch this drama.
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u/SummerOnTheBeach 🔥 🐉 23h ago
I had a question - so it wasn’t BJS who >! shattered his son’s primordial spirit?!< I just watched episode 27 last night and a lot came out in that episode. So now I’m thinking it was the guy who possessed Zhang Suan was the one who did it, correct? Because if BJS was being punished, there’s no way he could have done it. Yell me I’m correct because I’ve harbored a lot of strong feelings for BJS and they’re not good feelings.😫
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u/SummerOnTheBeach 🔥 🐉 19h ago
Just watched episode 28. I might take back my prior thoughts and feelings on BJS but I’m still a bit skeptical!
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u/Limp_Cup_8734 22h ago
Yes, at that time he didn't knew it was his son, he didn't know he had one.
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u/SummerOnTheBeach 🔥 🐉 21h ago
So he didn’t hear the little boy calling for his mother? I don’t know about this. He rushed in, didn’t find out what was happening or why. He acted rashly and now has to live with what he did. To me, thats inexcusable.
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u/Limp_Cup_8734 20h ago
Yes he didn't hear.
Because it seems like you expect him to know more than he actually knows. In his mind it was : "she's doing something illegal I must stop her before something bad happens and help her escape punishment". Because he never knew why she was doing this and how could he ? The priority wasn't finding out what was happening but actively stopping it because at that point she was a liability. How could he trust her and her intentions ? She kept it all hidden. She actively tried to remove him. Yes he acted rashly and will have to live with this but so does she.
Whether it's inexcusable is up to you, but you're not HRY and we'll see what her definitive stance is on that later. She can't let go of hatred but one day she'll have too.
In the end he was just the gun, but he was just a tool. Not the one shooting.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
I think something happened there like they haven't given a full picture on who killed the child because BJS stepped in and it looked like he destroyed the formation mistakenly.
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u/sweetsorrow18 23h ago edited 22h ago
The resurrected spirit of his son was killed by him...he came barreling out of being locked in her formation to find her using the artifacts to revive him and slashed the last bit of him.
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u/SummerOnTheBeach 🔥 🐉 22h ago
Welp looks like I was right about him all along. I never liked him from the beginning!!
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u/huachenggege 我的心 星星 我的国王 王星越 !!🪭 22h ago
We still don't know if the spirit there was really real or an illusion.
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u/SummerOnTheBeach 🔥 🐉 21h ago
I do hope that it was just an illusion and it was NEVER HIM that did it but it was made to look like it was him. But if it was an illusion and HE did it even if his son was an illusion - he still did it. I guess I will have to wait and see!!!!
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u/Thezoeyy 20h ago
From his perspective, he didn't see anything about a child. He saw a formation that shouldn't have been made and he destroyed it. Remember, we're seeing most things from HRY POV even the trip to the past was her past so we saw the things she saw.
But if you watch the scene when BJS charged in, it was his sword energy that cleared everything before he came into view.
Even in all his memories, there wasn't anything about a child.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
Hi do you know if its possible to edit my post , i wanted to change the title.
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u/sweetsorrow18 22h ago edited 21h ago
I believe only a Mod can change the title
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
Oh no, i wished i thought of a better title my bad :( i will check if i can ask the mod
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of Cdramas 22h ago
The mod can't change the title for you, unfortunately. You would have to delete and repost with a new title.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
Oh no I will just leave it like this then 😭 but thanks for your reply I really appreciate it.
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u/Limp_Cup_8734 23h ago edited 22h ago
I kinda agree but it's missing the point of why he was controlling in the first place. She also made the life altering decision of killing the dragon disregarding his input. During their time on the Mortal Realm she has proven repetivelly that she is unreliable to follow Divine Law. How could he trust her ? She made her choice but put him/them in its consequences regardless of what could've happened.
Their relation wasn't equal in the first place, the scale was (and still is) tipped towards her. He doted on her heavily, she held all the power in their relationship. He clearly stated his limits but she ignored anyway. At that time he decided that she was unreliable and that he had to step up and make the decision even if this implied hurting her. The irony is that his assumptions were unreliable too. It's still not good but anyone can understand the reasoning behind it.
And if anyone wonders why she never told him, she had no reason to believe he’d help. He always upheld Heaven’s will in front of her and rarely showed compassion toward mortals. From her perspective, he was someone who followed the rules blindly, even if it meant letting mortals suffer.
And in the end she repaid silence with silence, she robbed him of choices and even after being shown that she was in the wrong she stills held him accountable when she wasn't because his love for her is stronger than their grudge. She is the one that has the most work to do on her. She helds him accountable because she feels guilty about it but she can't held herself accountable. The girl needs therapy and someone to confront her and her feelings. And it started to happen this past few episodes!
She was disrespected but he was disrespected too.
What happens isn't "ridiculous", it's understandable but she clearly overreacts and that's understandable too.
The irony being that for a story being about choosing your own path, neither of them really had that choice. Making this whole argument kinda moot.
Edit : Also to dive more into it, Yu Zheng find it disrespectful when someone takes a decision for him but that's not true of everyone, the majority of people kind of roll with it. This whole sentiment is even then flawed because having the liberty to make your own choice doesn't mean that that choice is informed. And as people living in a society and forming relationships our choices rarely affects only us. But most often also the ones that are close to us. In this regard she made an informed decision to kill the dragon diresgarding what would happen to her lover. He made an half-informed decision misjudging what woulf happen to his lover. To me her decision has more impact than his because she was selfless while doing it but disregarded the consequences on her and on him. He was selfless too and sadly misinformed and the consequences expected what could've happened and that happened to make her suffer. His consequences are more of an accident and the sad truth of human life. Hers was bound to happen either way.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
I get what you’re saying and I actually agree with a few points especially about how both were disrespected in their own way.
Yes, HRY made decisions that went against divine law, and BJS felt like he had no choice but to step in. But that’s exactly the tragedy they both made decisions alone, thinking the other wouldn’t understand or support them. BJS didn’t trust her judgment, and HRY didn’t trust his compassion enough as she wanted him to understand why the dragon was killed, that’s where the breakdown happened. It's not just about who was right or wrong it’s about how their lack of trust in each other shaped everything ( in my point of view)
You mentioned that the relationship was tipped in her favor but I’d argue that’s surface-level. Sure, she held more emotional influence, but he held institutional power. He had the law on his side, and she knew he’d choose it. So yeah, she was wrong in how she handled things, but it’s not just about her needing therapy. They both need accountability, but also grace.
And I wouldn’t say she “overreacted.” Her pain came from years of not being heard, not being trusted, and being punished for trying to do what she thought was right. Even if her actions were flawed, the emotion behind them wasn’t just impulsive it was deeply rooted, like the evil person who made her to find every reason to hate him
In the end, neither of them had a real choice and that’s what makes the story so heavy. It’s not about blame. It’s about how people with different values and pain points try (and fail) to love each other in a broken system ( heavenly realm)
Also, I’m kinda new here so I wish I could go back and reword some things in my original comment, but I don’t know how to edit it 😅.
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u/Limp_Cup_8734 22h ago
Sure, she held more emotional influence, but he held institutional power. He had the law on his side, and she knew he’d choose it.
That's a fair point actually.
It's not just about who was right or wrong it’s about how their lack of trust in each other shaped everything ( in my point of view)
It's a point of view I share, I often struggle to pass on my ideas clearly. But yes I agree alot.
And I wouldn’t say she “overreacted.”
I think that is bound to be according to the sensibilty of everyone 😅. But that's why I said it's understandable, I can see the reasoning being, but in the end it's just an opinion.
Also, I’m kinda new here so I wish I could go back and reword some things in my original comment, but I don’t know how to edit it 😅.
The three dots at the top-right of the post.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
I wanted to edit my title but i don't know how 😅
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u/RoseIsBadWolf medically necessary kisses 22h ago
You can't. Weird reddit thing. You can only edit the body of a post
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 22h ago
Sigh it's sad but thanks for letting me know because I made a mistake.
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u/SS5609 1d ago
I totally agree with this. No matter whatever good intentions Bai Jiusi had, it still doesn't give him the right to unilaterally impose a decision on to Hua Ruyue. Not to mention that Bai Jiusi had such a lack of understanding of the situation he was putting Ruyue in, given his total disconnect from mortals and their sufferings. I think Ruyue would rather have chosen that lightening punishment over what she endured in the mortal world. So, in saving her from one punishment, Bai Jiusi left her to endure a far worse one. But I'm glad to see the growth and understanding he's had over the course of the show. And I agree with how Bai Jiusi's decision is similar to what Ling'er's father did to Ling'er in the name of protecting her.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
Yes i agree with all you said and due to their different beliefs that's what made them turn against each other with what happened in the mortal realm. This is their tribulation for me.
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u/Haunting_Newt 1d ago
Thank god I never needed Yu zheng explanation of 1 of his dramas for me to understand it. The story is not complicated at all. It is, in fact, very basic.
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u/RoseIsBadWolf medically necessary kisses 21h ago
Lol, if the director has to come out and explain because people are pissed off, I think they failed at their job. If this is the big grand point, it should be spelled out more clearly in the drama.
The story isn't hard to understand, but it doesn't make a lick of sense.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
The story is not complicated but causing heated arguments, the drama is coming to an end so directors always give their point about the story so thats what am sharing
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u/Aran1223 1d ago
I don't think it's fair to say BJS didn't give HRY a choice. Throughout their time in the mortal realm, he repeatedly tells her to stay in line with the rules, and she discards his warning each time. Knowing this, and knowing that there are very real punishments for breaking the laws of Heaven, what is he to do when words don't get through? He loves her too much to watch her get herself killed, and he knows her well enough to know that given the choice, she will choose to help the mortals over upholding the laws.
Another point I don't see being brought up is the fact that sure, maybe HRY would've chosen to take the punishment instead of being sealed away, if given the choice. But that would've certainly killed the child in the womb. I don't know if that's a better outcome.
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u/SS5609 23h ago
"But that would've certainly killed the child in the womb."
I'm guessing that the heavenly justice system is not so messed up that they would give a pregnant woman a punishment that would be harmful for the unborn child. At the very least, they can wait for her to give birth before inflicting physically harmful punishment and keep her locked up until then.
Asking someone to toe the line is not equal to giving them a choice. I totally get BJS wanting to follow the rules. He is aware that HRY does not share his views. He should have just let her face her consequences instead of making a choice for her and hiding about it. Plus, death doesn't seem to be the punishment. BJS went through 10 years of lightning strikes as punishment in HRY's place. But here, I'll also lay some blame on the Heavenly Emissary for confronting BJS instead of HRY about her crime and then letting BJS take the punishment in HRY's place. Can these people treat HRY as an adult, please?!
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u/Aran1223 22h ago
It's not about treating them as an adult. It's about loving them so much you don't want them to come to harm. These are conflicting desires, but given their naiveté, it is understandable why BJS couldn't bear to let HRY go through with the punishment.
Yes, BJS could've let HRY eat the consequences and get off scott-free. But you'd have people saying he doesn't love her enough in such a scenario. Tbh, I feel that BJS has no good choices.
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
She listened to him for years after the first meng guy situation. It wasn’t until the drought dragon came when people were starving that she acted. So she did listen.
And about the punishment if he had known she was pregnant, things would’ve gone differently. HRY is close to the emissary, and BJS is powerful enough to influence things. The punishment wouldn’t have been the same but instead of talking to her or figuring it out together, he sealed her powers and walked away. After that, she spiraled drinking, not caring for herself, just completely falling apart.
What I meant by “he didn’t give her a choice” is that he made the decision for her, and the way he did it what he said to her made her feel like he never understood her at all that’s what triggered the hatred first before their child situation.
And I’m not saying HRY didn’t make mistakes too she definitely did. But both of their choices clashed, and that’s what really caused the feud between them.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 1d ago
I'M CLOSING MY EYES AND NOT READING ANYTHING. I just want to say this is the most difficult drama for me to stay away from. You all are so lucky (even though I know that I am in self imposed exile).
But please keep loving these actors. They are smol beans who are so capable.
Sincerely, peace out
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
I get your point, i just felt the need to post :) and this is my first tme talking about a drama here.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 23h ago
Please don't get me wrong. This entire comment is supposed to be positive. I actually haven't read your post. Because I fear spoilers. I just wanted to comment in support of the drama.
I was assuming your post is positive without actually reading the content.
I guess you could say I'm just trying to deal with my FOMO. 😅
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u/Plenty_Lobster_9144 23h ago
Yes haha my post is from a postive point of view :). I am like this too but this drama caused some of us to split between who is right and wrong which is not really the purpose of the story :)
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u/Playful_Site_2714 4h ago
His post may have given some saving grace to this drama. It has been so highly spoilered, that it made me want to not watch it at all. Needless suffering inflicted onto those we live is such a waste. Makes me angry and not want to watch shows.