Plot Synopsis
"Parallel World" is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Wei Yu. The desolate region of LopNur, known as the "Sea of Death," hides a great secret from the era of Emperor Han Wu. The ancient YumenPass, which has long been weathered into sand, takes form during midnight sandstorms and grantspassage to certain special "individuals."
"Desert Rose" Ye Liu Xi and "Clever and Brave Sand Tracker" Chang Dong, one searching to uncover the mystery of their identity and the other unraveling the truth of thepast, join forces to venture deepinto the fantastical world.
The heart of the desert is fraught with danger, as if an invisible hand ispulling them into the weathered YumenPass. The two navigate between various forces, deducing the truth amidst numerous enigmas, and come to understand true love through repeated trials of life and death. The truth seems within reach, but they find themselves entangled in an even greater conspiracy.
Episodes Recap
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- 21-25
- 26-30
- 31-35
- 36-38
Episode 1 : Ye Liu Xi came to find Chang Dong to be her guide.
Episode 2 : Ye Liu Xi confessed to Chang Dong that she had lost her memory.
Episode 3 : Ye Liu Xi and the other two set off for Yumen Pass.
Episode 4 : Ye Liu Xi and Chang Dong opened up to each other, and Chang Dong revealed the truth from two years ago.
Episode 5 : Ye Liu Xi and the others encountered a convoy of robbers while on their journey.
Episode 6 : Fei Tang encountered some strange and bizarre events.
Episode 7 : The coffin is strange, and Chang Dong suspects the existence of parallel worlds.
Episode 8 : Ye Liu Xi and Chang Dong returned to Hailong Mound once again.
Episode 9 : Ding Liu intends to sow discord between Ye Liu Xi and Chang Dong.
Episode 10 : Chang Dong and others enter within the pass.
Episode 11 : The appearance of sand-encrusted individuals.
Episode 12 : Chang Dong saw Kong Yang.
Episode 13 : Chang Dong burned Dui Yuan's body.
Episode 14 : Ye Liu Xi and Chang Dong went to probe Ye Liu Xi's enemies.
Episode 15 : Ye Liu Xi wants to go to Blackstone City.
Episode 16 : Ding Liu is injured and hospitalized.
Episode 17 : Ye Liu Xi and Others Being Hunted
Episode 18 : Ye Liu Xi and Chang Dong are together
Episode 19 : Ye Liu Xi obtained a customs clearance disc.
Episode 20 : Ye Liu Xi and the others meet Zhao Guan Shou.
Episode 21 : Ye Liu Xi helps Chang Dong with the investigation.
Episode 22 : Zhao Guan Shou seeks the services of a divination expert.
Episode 23 : Fei Tang gets kidnapped.
Episode 24 : Ding Liu and Gao Shen steal the Yellow Goat Head.
Episode 25 : Ye Liu Xi and the others enter the gold mine.
Episode 26 : Jiang Zhan wants Ye Liu Xi's life.
Episode 27 : Chang Dong comforts Ye Liu Xi.
Episode 28 : Long Zhi takes Jiang Zhan away.
Episode 29 : Long Zhi reveals a secret.
Episode 30 : Ye Liu Xi and the others prepare to come out of seclusion.
Cast & Role
Gao Shen
(Li Yun Rui)
Long Zhi
(Meng Zi Yi)
Chang Dong
(Bai Yu)
Jiang Zhan
(Jin Han)
In the first act of the novel, Chang Dong transforms into Ding Zhou and performs shadow puppetry on Huimin Street. There are also behind-the-scenes clips of Bai Yu's shadow play, and I'm looking forward to this scene in the storyline.
On this evening, the shadow play began promptly at seven o'clock. By six fifty, the seats below the stage were already filled with people. Ding Zhou lifted the curtain slightly to look down. Most of the audience consisted of parents with their children.
The children couldn't sit still, twisting and turning on their seats, asking in a buzz of voices, 'When will the cartoons start?'
Ding Zhou could foresee what would happen next: after the performance began, the children would find it uninteresting.
They knew that shadow play was far different from cartoons. They would complain about the obscure and difficult-to-understand singing, and would want to go out and play. The adults would scold them, and the children would cry and make a fuss.
In the midst of this chaos, Ding Zhou would continue to perform the play, accompanied by Qin Yun's traditional singing style. It seemed quite dull to think about it, but for most of the time that people are alive, things are inherently dull.
At first, only Kong Yang was recognized, as the red dress and necklace made her easily identifiable. It was later discovered that the others were all part of the same group of deceased individuals.
So initially, only one grave was dug.These are the final set of characters.
I have heard a scarier story than Sister Xi's. It's about two people holding hands and climbing a mountain. Along the way, they are brutally attacked by evil spirits, their bodies covered in blood and wounds. One of them cuts off half of their own body to feed the evil spirits, while the other desperately pulls their loved one up the mountain. When they look back, they realize they are holding a severed hand in their own hand.
Main plot: In the opening of the first episode, the female protagonist wakes up to the sound of trees. When the chubby character is dragged away, there is the sound of rustling trees.
Based on some scattered plot details, it is likely that the female protagonist and the unknown group of people are the inheritors of the ancient city. The camellia storm is probably triggered by them in their search for something, inadvertently involving the male protagonist's group.
Clearly, they haven't found what they were looking for, and the female protagonist may have differences with them.
Another aspect is to use a strategy against them, gathering the male protagonist, who is a desert expert, and the female protagonist (who knows something but refuses to share it with that group).
Main plot: The male protagonist, female protagonist, and their group are guided to search for something, and in the end, there is a praying mantis catching the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Regarding the identity of the female protagonist, it is speculated that she can manipulate the elements of wood, metal, water, fire, and earth. Interestingly, the power of wood appears in the desert, indicating that their identities might be related to being guardians of the desert.
The thing they are searching for is related to either eternal life, priceless value, or escaping fate. A small prophecy is predicted.
While watching this drama and seeing the fight between Liu Xi and Bo Gu, resulting in Shan Cha's unfortunate death, I would like to share my own perspective.
First, Liu Xi didn't intentionally start the fight. He had concerns in his heart, which is normal. Second, since Long Zhi didn't save Shan Cha's life, and they all died, does that mean we shouldn't blame Chang Dong anymore?
I feel that none of this should be blamed on Long Zhi. Originally, Chang Dong went along with Shan Cha and got injured. Long Zhi, in order to execute her plan to kill Liu Xi, insisted on saving him.
She even turned all the dead bodies, including Shan Cha, into sand figures by feeding them with the sand substance. Shouldn't she be considered a villain with a twisted mind?
Everyone keeps saying that Chang Dong shouldn't have fallen in love with Liu Xi. Well, indirectly causing harm, whether intentional or not, is still a matter of concern.
I understand that. But those who say we should hate Liu Xi, are you kidding? Are you only hating him because you support Long Zhi? The mindset of a normal person should be against Long Zhi, the antagonist.
Liu Xi indirectly caused harm, which is not a lethal offense, and it was unintentional. Long Zhi, on the other hand, did it intentionally. Think for yourself.
If Chang Dong didn't kill Ye Liu Xi, it means he's a normal person, isn't it obvious?
Our Ding Liu is also a little unlucky. He just entered the inner city not long ago and got injured in battle. He had only shown off a few times before falling flat.
Not only did he get his head cracked open, but he also got branded with a painting.
I must say our Ding Liu is quite adorable, but how did he end up being treated like a big flowerpot?
This flower can even invade the host and turn them into walking corpses. Just thinking about it is distressing.
I thought that with such a big wound on his head and no hair growing, that confident Yi Sheng with his magical little potion would just wipe it on and everything would be fine.
Little did I know, it was all part of a well-planned scheme. This time Ding Liu really got played, and Gao Shen was lost too.
Even Gao Shen got dragged into it and was forced to agree to kill people. Now many people are worried about their receding hairlines, fearing that they will go bald and constantly lamenting their thinning hair in front of the mirror.
Things like ginger and nutrient solutions are selling like crazy online. What's even more absurd is that many people are leaving comments dreaming about how good the effects are, as if they're deluding themselves.
As humans, we should maintain a calm mindset and relax.
Whatever we think about will come. I never worry about losing my hair. I don't have so many concerns. My hair falls out a lot, but it still grows beautifully. The old ones go, and the new ones come. Even if I lose a lot of hair, my family and descendants thrive.
A He is so pitiful. Just like her name suggests, she has no sense of self, only dedication. She exhausts herself time and time again, like crops being harvested, constantly growing stronger, constantly being harvested, and gradually wearing away day by day.
In order to give her a proper identity within the inner city, her parents used their hard-earned money to send her to Yu Lin Wei. It may seem like they found her a stable job that would guarantee her a worry-free life, but in reality, they used their hard-earned money to send their own flesh and blood into a brainwashing organization.
This organization appears to provide you with a shelter but endlessly exploits and brainwashes you.
A He was assigned to the Peace Dove team, a group that doesn't have absolute competitive advantage in terms of strength but is trained to exchange information and act as undercover agents.
In order to transmit messages during missions, they heartlessly cut out A He's tongue and replaced it with a prosthetic tongue.
A He is truly a child with a tragic fate. After being captured with Fei Tang, her tongue was cut once again, and another prosthetic tongue was implanted.
I believe that all of A He's good luck might have been used to meet Fei Tang, this humorous and kind-hearted man who would do anything to treat her well.
It's never too late to encounter love. Let's hope for A He's happiness and also hope that Xie Jie can help her completely break free from the torment of Yu Lin Wei.
In this episode, the mastermind behind the scenes allowing Ye Liu Xi and his group to enter Black Stone Town finally revealed his identity. It turns out he is the formidable leader of the Imperial Guards, the most powerful force in the inner city.
This is no ordinary existence. The Zhao family is not an ordinary force within the inner city but one of the three influential major families.
Originally, when shadow puppetry held a significant position in the inner city's livelihood, the Li family also had a place.
However, with the birth of Ye Liu Xi, the effectiveness of shadow puppetry declined, leading to the diminishing status of the Li family.
Zhao Guan Shou not only controls the power of the Imperial Guards but also manipulates some high-ranking monsters.
It is said that his own martial arts skills are exceptional, making him a formidable fighter. However, he suffered severe injuries during the battle against the scorpion, so he doesn't easily take action now.
Back in the days when Ye Liu Xi was still in the inner city, he intentionally tried to win over Zhao Guan Shou and even personally delivered life-saving elixirs to him.
Leaving aside everything else, just by the fact that Zhao Guan Shou organized several armored vehicles to welcome Ye Liu Xi at the town gate, it's evident that he is a person of status and influence. These armored vehicles, such high-end things, indicate that he possesses considerable control and resources that should not be underestimated.
I believe that Zhao Guan Shou's display at the town gate this time was not purely showing off his wealth but also to establish his dominance and send a message to Xie Jie and her group. It was a way of telling them that he has the strength to contend with them and that they should not act recklessly but strive for cooperation as much as possible.
Now we know that Xie Jie is the leader of the Scorpio organization. She is the boss of Scorpio and can be said to be the one who founded it.
But during the battle between Yu Lin Wei and Scorpio, the power of the Dragon Clan, one of the three major families, also intervened through Fang Shi.
They used powerful techniques, resulting in Ye Liu Xi's devastating defeat.
She had her memories sealed and was even thrown outside the city and hung on a tree. Didn't they say that once you leave the city, you can't return? So, who hung Xie Jie on the tree?
To be honest, I didn't fully understand this part.
I don't know how you guys watch TV dramas, but personally, I'm usually not very serious about it. Watching dramas is just entertainment and relaxation for me. I don't delve too deeply into the plot or look for profound meanings.
I watch them to have fun and unwind. I have to say, Zhao Guan Shou's move of using Scorpio against Scorpio is despicable. He clearly knows the truth but wants to use Xie Jie's hand to put an end to Scorpio, which she once founded.
Putting everything else aside, just considering Zhao Guan Shou's scheming nature, I can't really like him.
However, some people say that Zhao Guan Shou is actually a good person with a strong sense of justice. They believe that he is using all means to maintain stability within the city and that he knows his time may be limited, so he wants to quickly resolve these troublesome matters.
Fei Tang has been controlled by Brother Zhan, acting as his mouthpiece and informing Ye Liu Xi to bring the artifact, the Ram Horn Cup, for exchange.
When it comes to this coveted treasure, Sister Xi didn't even raise an eyebrow.
In her heart, Fei Tang's life is far more important than the Ram Horn Cup.
The item belongs to her in the first place, so whether it's with her or not, it doesn't matter. What is meant to be hers will naturally return to her.
The previous Sister Xi was indifferent, with her mind focused solely on unraveling the mystery of her own identity. But now, things are different. Along the way, Sister Xi has formed deep bonds with Fei Tang, Ding Liu, Gao Shen, and even A He and Lao Ao.
Who wouldn't like someone who would wholeheartedly help when others are in trouble?
Sister Xi is willing to risk her life for them, and they, in turn, will reciprocate in the same manner. The upcoming battle with the Dragon Clan is crucial, and facing the formidable arts of the Dragon Clan, what price will Sister Xi and her team have to pay?
During a gathering where they all sat down to eat, Dong Ge expressed his hope that they wouldn't go their separate ways, conveying the same sentiment. They should stay united as one family, without further harm.
They should come together and naturally go forward together.
The chaos and conflicts within the city have nothing to do with them, but their own people must remain and live well. That is what matters most.
Fighting among peers is common, and harm among people of the same gender is even more prevalent. In reality, I've witnessed countless incidents of girls fighting, pulling hair, biting, kicking, and attacking without any mercy.
When girls fight, they engage in true physical combat to secure victory.
Moreover, out of ten fights, nine of them are likely triggered by men. Seeing Ding Liu applying skincare products for A He is quite heartwarming.
The local environment is harsh, with strong winds and sandstorms.
The girls' skin is affected prematurely by these conditions. At an age when they shouldn't have any skin issues, their complexion becomes dull, wrinkled, and loses its natural radiance.
The condition of Ding Liu's and A He's skin truly differs by a significant margin.
This indirectly reflects the hardships of life within the city and the harshness of the environment.
I hope that girls refrain from fighting and consider whether it's worth it before resorting to violence. Is it because of a lousy man that such misunderstandings arise?
A He is also soft-hearted. If Ding Liu shows her a little kindness, she reveals the earth-shattering things she has done.
It turns out that the Ram Horn Cup had already been taken from Sister Xi's possession and Zhao Guan Shou had arranged for A He to switch the package.
For such classified information, A He chose to confide in Ding Liu. This indicates that in A He's heart, she has already accepted this group of friends.
Ding Liu is indeed an adorable and free-spirited girl. She was initially attracted to Dong Ge and tried to get closer to see if she could have this older man as her partner. However, she quickly realized that Dong Ge and Sister Xi were mutually attracted to each other.
As an outsider, she couldn't intervene. They were good comrades, bound by life and death, so how could she do something as selfish as trying to snatch love away?
A young girl's love comes and goes quickly, and Ding Liu soon let go of Dong Ge.
During the seemingly petty conflicts between Dong Ge and Sister Xi, Ding Liu provided various well-organized analyses to Sister Xi, describing how she perceived Dong Ge.
In reality, Sister Xi understood it all; she just didn't want to deliberately play the role of a savior.
She admired Dong Ge's talent and wisdom and wanted him to fully entrust himself to her, making all the decisions without changing just because she said or did something.
In Fei Tang and A He's relationship, Ding Liu also played the role of an expert in answering questions and clarifying doubts.
When Fei Tang intentionally or unintentionally sought attention in front of A He, displaying his charm as a man, Ding Liu straightforwardly stated that A He treated Fei Tang differently, unlike how she treated others.
This kind of special favor, occurring between a man and a woman, usually indicates love without a doubt.
So, why is it that Ding Liu, who considers herself knowledgeable about love and enjoys igniting sparks between well-matched couples, can't see Gao Shen's love? It seems she is truly blinded by being too involved in the situation.
Finally, I understand why Gao Shen always seems distant and maintains a certain level of detachment. In his mind, Qi Ye entrusted Ding Liu to him. So, in a strict sense, Ding Liu is more than just a girlfriend.
She represents a higher level of responsibility and obligation, something that Gao Shen is willing to risk his life to protect—a woman.
Ding Liu is like a wife to him, even though Gao Shen himself may not fully realize it.
He has deeply rooted feelings for Ding Liu, and he simply knows that he wants to treat her well.
When they eat, he serves her food, afraid that she might get sunburned, using his own body as a shade to protect her from the sun.
In battles and confrontations, Gao Shen always rushes to the forefront, ensuring Ding Liu's safety. During the fight with the Scorpion Man, when Ding Liu was stabbed in the skull by the Scorpion Man's blade, Gao Shen shed tears multiple times.
He was afraid that Ding Liu might not be there anymore before he had the chance to confess his feelings and let her know his intentions.
Some people, through certain habits, develop an emotional attachment that is even stronger than romantic love.
It's not just about possession; it's a complex notion of doing everything possible to treat her well.
In reality, Ding Liu is quite fortunate. However, when it comes to Gao Shen, this big boy, rushing into a relationship or staying together forever cannot be rushed.
It needs to happen gradually.
In the world of Guan Nei, the Zhao family, Qian family, and Long family stand as a triumvirate, each with their own power and abilities.
Currently, it seems that the Qian family specializes in fortune-telling and divination, being able to predict the fate of people and their families within Guan Nei.
The Zhao family oversees the Yu Lin Wei and seems to be akin to warriors, valuing strength. Zhao Guan Shou's martial prowess should be formidable.
The Long family can be likened to mages or sorcerers, known as Fang Shi within Guan Nei.
They are skilled in manipulating elemental forces and possess potent and destructive abilities. What sets them apart is their ability to control and punish demonic beasts.
In the original world of Guan Nei, the power balance among the Zhao, Qian, and Long families was relatively equal. They would collectively study and make decisions on important matters, no matter how big or small.
However, since the recent upheaval, the Long family has become dominant, disregarding the Zhao and Qian families. The once glorious Zhao and Qian families have been reduced to the role of vassals.
It's understandable because the Long family has a ruthless and ambitious leader who spares no effort in expanding their influence, even at the cost of innocent lives.
With the turmoil brewing within Guan Nei, apart from these three factions, there is also Scorpion Eye, who is bound to return under the command of Sister Xi.
Sister Xi must emerge as the ultimate victor.
Sister Xi possesses the demeanor of a ruler, not only excelling in martial prowess but also possessing compassion for the people.
She has a group of friends supporting her cause.
How infatuated is Sister Xi with Dong Ge? She was once a career-driven strong woman, but love has corroded her and she is deeply trapped in it, unable to free herself.
Sister Xi once had ambitions to liberate the Guan Nei world. But now, without putting up a fight, she succumbs to the love that Dong Ge wholeheartedly gives her, and everything else fades away.
It's actually quite a pity for Sister Xi. It's not like you can have both the fish and the bear's paw, but what's wrong with wanting both?
Haven't we all heard that only children make choices while adults want it all? Maybe in the future, Sister Xi will wield her mighty sword and liberate Guan Nei, allowing the shadow puppets to come to life once again, filled with magic.
Thus, Sister Xi becomes the ruler of this Guan Nei world. Yet, she doesn't desire power and lacks the intelligence that matches her strength. So willingly, she entrusts the task of governing Guan Nei to Dong Ge.
What a display of dominance! She doesn't want the kingdom.
If she possesses it, her kingdom belongs to him.
They say love is pure and unrelated to material possessions. Honestly, I am moved by this statement.
Compared to a world of material abundance, I hope that the spiritual realm, brimming with fulfillment, is even better.
May Sister Xi fearlessly ride the waves, accompanied by conscientious companions she has gathered, and conquer this Guan Nei world.
Sister Xi, also known as Qingzhi, is in a very bad mood after cutting down Jiang Zhan. She feels particularly downcast and doesn't understand why she is showing signs of sadness and shedding tears. Subconsciously, she has realized that her relationship with Jiang Zhan is not so simple, at the very least, they are very close friends.
So, after all of this happens, she seeks comfort from Chang Dong. Chang Dong's warm embrace truly provides solace to Qingzhi. He knows how to speak, and the situation at that time was indeed urgent.
Jiang Zhan not only intended to kill Qingzhi but also wouldn't spare Chang Dong and Fei Tang who were present.
Therefore, Qingzhi had no choice but to take action. It was a matter of life and death. Chang Dong embraces Qingzhi, comforting her as if comforting a child, allowing her to seek warmth. I believe this is how every man expresses love for a woman—being so gentle, indulgent, and patiently comforting with soft words.
Doesn't everyone want to be someone's little child, able to be willful and spoiled, showered with endless love? I really hope that after Chang Dong discovers the truth, he won't be conflicted. After all, Qingzhi herself didn't know that her opening of the ancient demon's seal would have such far-reaching consequences.
She didn't know that on the other side of the world, the Shan Cha Nineteen people were also at that location and would be affected.
Therefore, it's crucial to stay rational and not let the fact that Ye Liu Xi has become Ye Qingzhi lead you to part ways just because your names don't match!
They say that this kind of plot is the most gripping, the most captivating. But after watching so many episodes, I really don't want to see two lovers become adversaries.
When Long Zhi reveals the truth to Chang Dong, pointing out that the Shan Cha Nineteen, including Kong Yang's death, were all caused by Qingzhi, who forcibly opened the ancient demon's seal, triggering the sandstorm.
Although Chang Dong is shocked and heartbroken, he doesn't lose his rationality at that moment. He states that he won't take sides based solely on her words.
But even though Chang Dong appears strong in front of the enemy, when he returns to his residence, he has no strength left.
He suffers from recurring nightmares, always dreaming of his former comrades' lack of understanding and questioning, berating him for choosing to help the enemy.
Chang Dong feels immense guilt towards the Shan Cha Nineteen. When faced with their doubts and making decisions again, he can't help but feel conflicted.
On the caravan, Chang Dong tells Ding Liu a story and asks her how she would make a choice if she were in that situation. Ding Liu doesn't pick up on the underlying meaning and straightforwardly states that she couldn't accept it, that she would have to confront the person who caused the death of her friend's beloved.
But Chang Dong overlooks one thing: he doesn't tell Ding Liu that he himself has deeply fallen in love with this person responsible for the incident.
True love is innocent. The person is gone, and the beloved has arrived. Fortunately, Chang Dong still possesses rationality and judgment.
In the end, he doesn't choose to listen to anyone but follows his own heart.
These poor little lovers, they really make people worry. First, Xiaoliu gets her mind messed with, and then Gao Shen is threatened and manipulated by Long Zhi to kill Qingzhi. Qingzhi is invincible within the Pass, the people inside cannot kill her, only those from outside can.
So, after using Jiang Zhan as a backup plan, Long Zhi targets Gao Shen. She uses the parasitic plant on Ding Liu's head to threaten Gao Shen, promising to help cure him but at the cost of going after Qingzhi.
Fortunately, Gao Shen is a rational and honorable person who, until the very last moment, couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger. He pays a painful price too, receiving two fatal cuts to his abdomen from Long Zhi's henchmen.
Afterward, he lies low all the way. This journey has truly tested this young couple in various ways. It's like Qiye spending money to make them suffer, resembling a well-intentioned parent who sends their child to a militarily managed summer camp to experience life, paying money and enduring hardships, only to come back home and desperately praise how great the instructor was.
Just like them, they confidently claim that they can handle Qiye when they return. Qiye loves hearing these fantastical stories and even teaches Dongge and Xijie how to handle any future tasks from Qiye, no matter how high the price, as Qiye has plenty of money.
Ah, these naive children.
If Qiye were to hear this, his beard would practically fly off. The most regrettable thing is that these two haven't confessed and held hands yet. Even the chubby guy has tied the knot, while they are still awkwardly lingering on the path of uncertainty.
Honestly, after watching this drama, whether it's Qingzhi or Long Zhi, I can't bring myself to blame them. Their misfortunes are both caused by their families.
Qingzhi, in her childhood, witnessed her parents being killed by Yan Zhong.
She was then sold to a mine by human traffickers, forced into hard labor. Her family of origin, no matter how you look at it, was suppressed and persecuted by the clan. She took Yan Zhong's life with her own hands and eventually established Scorpion Eye.
Life taught her to fight fire with fire. If she had a peaceful childhood, would she have grown and acted this way?
Long Zhi, on the surface, appears to be a pampered rich girl, but in reality, she was indulged, spoiled, cruel, and ruthless by her family.
It's all the result of the so-called upbringing by the family. The family wants to grow stronger, wants to have successors, so she had to live up to the image of strength. Even the love she desired was obtained through manipulations and spells.
Can't you feel sorry for her?
Rather than saying Qingzhi is tragic, at least she gained friends and a lover. But what does Long Zhi have in the end? Nothing. I reckon she even lost her family in the end, not even obtaining the rights she wanted.
Fine, let's consider it as paying off a debt. Can you say she had a happy childhood? Apart from material superiority, there wasn't much else, I believe.
It's like they say, being poor means having nothing but money. In the end, someone like her can only grow old in loneliness, not knowing where she ultimately went wrong.
Lao Ao is a good person. He doesn't belong to a proper Fang Shi lineage, even though he has read many books and traveled extensively. He's just a branch of the Li family, and the Li family itself is a declining clan.
Over the years of his wanderings, Lao Ao has endured the disdain and contempt of others. Even the proprietress of the Red Flower Tree Inn, Lao Ban Niang, can openly snub him and say that allowing people like him to stay for free is an extraordinary favor.
What inner strength it must take for Lao Ao to maintain such an optimistic and positive attitude. The blow from Heishi Town is the most devastating for him. Despite traveling with Qingzhi and the others, he is blocked outside the museum and ridiculed and mocked by the younger generation of the Long family in Qingshi Town, with their words being particularly harsh.
After experiencing all of this, he couldn't help but be moved. In his conversation with Chang Dong, he reveals his desire to live the rest of his life in a different way.
Lao Ao may not have many skills, but he has two magical big roosters, and he is quite knowledgeable, well-versed in the affairs of the region.
He understands so many beasts and the systems within the region. In the escape from the region with Chang Dong and the others, he must have played a crucial role.
Although there is some inherent conflict between Qingzhi and their shadow puppetry, there must be other ways to resolve it in the end.
It shouldn't be that only Qingzhi dies and the shadow puppets have no other path to take.