The first thing I need to talk about is definitely Mo Ran and his character development! This is the part I most enjoyed and got emotionally invested in!

So, Mo Ran starts out as the despicable tyrant who terrorizes the entire cultivation world and mercilessly cuts down all who oppose him. But from the beginning, we get to know that that's not all there is to it. Mo Ran is emotionally distressed and lonely and those feelings have reached the point where he takes the last resort of poisoning himself to escape them. It shows that Mo Ran is still human and not some ruthless monster as some of the opposing cultivators make it seem. This setup of presenting Mo Ran as both cruel and vulnerable sets the stage for his whole development from here on and also to the revelation that he is in fact no villain but just a stupid child who wanted to protect the person he loved.

After his rebirth, he is first of all... kind of a prick (ᵕ—ᴗ—): "Chu Wanning, watch as I fuck you to death!" - From Volume 1 of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun.

His behavior, especially his inner monologue, after his rebirth stirred my opinion of him into a more negative direction, even though he is clearly making some progress with Chu Wanning, e.g. when he tends to his injuries, he is clearly not acting on hate. I also liked his petty "revenge" on his Shizun by drawing porn into his books ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵) which is also a mischievous thing that a sulking kid would do and not a cruel and domineering emperor.

Mo Ran's initial relationship with Shi Mei is sickly sweet and exasperating to me. I felt so sorry for Chu Wanning who is constantly being snubbed by his crush flirting with his other disciple! Knowing that Mo Ran and Chu Wanning are the end game, I really wanted to slap some sense into Mo Ran! (ㆆࡇㆆ")

Chu Wannings transformation into a child gives the two a huge chance to bond without any baggage from the past, which was great and super cute in my opinion. The arc where they get transported into the past where they experience the whole backstory of Chu Xun and Chu Lan is great for their relationship and also becomes important much later on! 

Then, the rift opens and Mo Ran despairingly takes Shi Mei's spot as support to Chu Wanning. And behold!!! Things unfold differently from the past and Chu Wanning dies in Mo Ran's place! (˶°ㅁ°)!! Before, it was Shi Mei who died and Chu Wanning did not save him at the cost of his own life. What does that tell us? That Mo Ran is so important to Chu Wanning that he is willing to sacrifice himself but he was not willing to do so for Shi Mei.

Generally, Chu Wanning has very different feelings towards his disciples. He loves Mo Ran, cares a lot about Xue Meng but is always a bit distant to Shi Mei which is also expressed by the fact that Chu Wanning only ever calls him "Shi Mingjing", his courtesy name. This is already a hint that Chu Wanning never trusted Shi Mei fully and always maintained some distance to him due to that fact.

Back to the previous point: Mo Ran's eyes are opened by Chu Wanning's death and he is finally able to understand all the misunderstandings from two lifetimes. He is riddled with guilt and swears to treasure Chu Wanning and make up for all his mistakes of the past and the present by bringing him back to life and treating him well. This is also the point where he starts realizing that he actually loves Chu Wanning. Book 3 is generally my favorite of the entire series because I simply love this turning point and the whole underworld arc. The scene where Mo Ran watches Chu Wanning making the Wontons for him almost broke me! (╥ ᴗ ╥)

We also get some more of Chu Xun and Chu Lan, again hinting at the importance of these two characters for later ( ◡̀  ̫ ◡́) ✧ And the small extra at the end narrating the resolution of their misunderstanding using the cat and the dog as characters. Cute and to the point!

After that, we still have a long way of pining and yearning before they finally get together but the tension between them is exquisite and always kept me thirsting for more. My favorite smut scene (of the many, long ones in this series... ) is definitely the one where they're both on opposite sides of the wall, thinking about each other (among other things). And while they never even touch in this scene, it is very memorable to me because it really conveys this mixture of yearning and despair that both of them feel at the time. 

Now, to the revelation that Mo Ran was consumed by the flower of eight-fold sorrow. One could argue that this revelation is an easy way out to exonerate Mo Ran and make him the tragic hero of the story. However, I don't think so at all!

First of all would be the timing. Had this revelation occurred at any earlier point during the story, it wouldn't have had this tremendous impact. The fact that we experience all of Mo Ran's suffering, pining and self-hate, brings us to gradually warm up to him and be able to relate to him. He very bitterly starts earning our forgiveness, support and also: Our understanding. Because after hearing his absolutely heart wrenching backstory, we know where the darkness in his heart comes from and we feel proud that he could subdue it and find someone to love and care for. At this point, the revelation gives us the final push to be completely devoted to Mo Ran and to cast away any last doubts. The revelation does not do the main work of exonerating him, Mo Ran himself already did! The revelation just disperses the last fog and does not diminish the credibility of his development.

Secondly would be the specifics of how the flower works. Because Hua Binan/Shi Mei reiterates multiple times that the flower does not force the bearer to anything and that Mo Ran's inner darkness was his own and not fabricated at all. That is true, he is a deeply troubled and traumatized child and thus, the flower could have such a strong effect on him. As Hua Binan argues: He cannot earn forgiveness based on the parasitic flower alone. Which is partly true, the fact remains that he did all those abhorrent things. However, he can also not be considered fully responsible because all his negative emotions were amplified and his positive emotions suppressed. It remains a thorny issue that is open to discussion.

What's important to me is that this revelation is not a complete free pass for Mo Ran's past actions but has some nuance to it.

I love the fact that we get a peek into all of Mo Ran's suppressed memories that all feature Chu Wanning! The beginning of their mutual affection was not as short-lived as Mo Ran made it out to be without his memories. They shared a lot of warmth and happiness during Mo Ran's first year as a disciple. This is also the explanation for Chu Wannings feelings we were all waiting for! Honestly, I thought at the beginning that Chu Wanning was just very lonely and taken with Mo Ran's looks 〜⁠(⁠꒪⁠꒳⁠꒪⁠)⁠〜

There are so many great scenes that show how Mo Ran struggles with himself and his past actions as Taxian-jun. They are extremely well-written, making the readers vividly feel how he is torn apart by immense guilt that he cannot escape. Examples are: His nightmares during the 5 years he spends wandering the world while waiting for Chu Wanning to wake up, when he realizes Chu Wannings feelings and thinks of how hurt he must have been by Mo Ran's actions in their past lifetime, his nightmare in the palace on Mount Jiao. But the most memorable of them all for me was the flashback to the past lifetime shortly after Chu Wanning's death. Mo Ran is desperately searching for traces of his younger self and despairs over not being able to remember how he did his hair as a disciple or not fitting into his old clothes anymore.

I also really loved Chu Wannings backstory: The explanation for why he always smells like Haitang flowers, god! (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ

But not only that, it explains his extraordinary abilities, the fact that he could summon his divine instrument during that final fight in his last life and also: His benevolent but lonely and aloof personality. He is a caring and tender being but the disappointment and betrayal by his adoptive father/creator leads him to be disconnected from people and being cold on the outside but still warm on the inside.

In the end, Mo Ran and Chu Wanning decide to retire from the cultivation world and just build a small haven of happiness for themselves. Which is the best they could have done! After two lifetimes of suffering and witnessing their beloved die multiple times and after saving the fucking world even though almost everyone was an ungrateful wretch to them, they more than deserve their quiet life in the mountains! (੭ ˊ^ˋ)੭ ♡

I nearly came undone when Mo Ran dies in Chu Wanning's arms in the mountain hut after having his core dug out. They finally find each other and clear up the misunderstandings of lifetimes but Chu Wanning is too late and cannot save Mo Ran. He doesn't want to let go and Mo Ran tries to reassure him even though he can feel that the end is near. But Chu Wanning pours out his heart regardless, afraid of loosing Mo Ran without having ever spoken his true feelings: "In the past lifetime - in this lifetime - I've always loved you. I've always wanted to be with you. And in the future too. [...] I love you. I'd tie my hair with yours; I'd split my souls for you; I'd surrender myself to you. [...] For two lifetimes, I've been yours. No regrets." - From Volume 7 of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun.

I was so touched when I read this scene and when I later read it to my mom, she actually cried! She didn't even know the rest of the story, that just tells how much of an emotional impact it has! (੭ ;´ ⌂ `;)੭♡

Shi Mei/Hua Binan is a great antagonist! Shi Mei seems slightly suspicious at times like when Mo Ran remarks that they flirt but he always maintains a certain distance or when he gives Chu Wanning and Mo Ran complicated looks. I was not completely sure if he had a crush on Mo Ran or not but it turns out, he had a crush on Chu Wanning! \(”˚☐˚)/

The past Hua Binan is a layered and morally grey character. He has a noble purpose which is to save the Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feasts but his methods are beyond cruel. He kills his own kin and has no qualms using the person he supposedly loves as means to an end (remember how he originally wanted to infect Chu Wanning with the flower). He has good reasons for being what he is and the Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feasts have excellent reasons to want to escape but that doesn't make it right to annihilate an entire universe! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

In the end, he gets what he wants even though he has to pay with his own life which in my opinion, is a very befitting end for him. I also appreciate it a lot that the present Shi Mei chose a different path in the end and decided to make amends. That shows how much a person can be shaped by their circumstances and that they can indeed break free from their past.

Xue Meng is a very funny side character who gets his own share of hardship and growing up at the end. And his banter with Mo Ran and later with the Mei twins is great!

Generally, there is a good amount of funny moments to balance out the serious and heavy tones of the story. My favorite: Chu Wanning reading the Cultivator Rankings after waking up, being completely oblivious at first and then learning about Mo Ran's: "Absolute unit, awe inspiring." - From Volume 4 of The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

One last thing is that I liked despite it not being a happy ending for the characters, is the conclusion for Ye Wangxi and Nangong Si. It is very sad that Nangong Si dies, he is a very lovable character and his upright personality is a stark contrast to his father and the other Rufeng Sect figures. However, he is partly also responsible for ignoring the moral decline of his sect and complying to his father's wishes. He also played a central part in allowing the exploitation of Ye Wangxi who was twisted and shaped according to Nangong Liu's wishes to serve as a tool for the sect. She was never considered a human being with emotions and Nangong Si never stood up for her. On the contrary, he even neglected her and pushed her away. Part of it is also due to his childishness and lack of foresight. He failed to see things clearly and to discern what matters and what is worth fighting for early. Considering that, it makes sense that he has to atone. Even though laying down his life is still too harsh a punishment, it was not completely undeserved.

Ye Wangxi is a strong character who endured a lot but still stood up to every adversity she faced. She held onto her childhood affections for Nangong Si, even though he pushed her away and neglected her. In the end however, she is able to let go and live for herself which I find great and very admirable!

After writing down the huge list of things that I liked, this one will be comparatively short (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

First of all: Chu Wanning's backstory and the revelation that he was carved from wood of the Yellow Emperor's tree is directly followed by the revelation of Mo Ran being afflicted by the flower of eight-fold sorrow. I felt that those were two major revelations and I would have liked a bit more time to process the first one before being hit with the second.

I was really sad that both of Xue Meng's parents had to die and in quick succession too! Not only is it super hard for Xue Meng but Mo Ran also never gets the chance to speak of them again and have some clearing-up and reconciliation. 

Which leads me to the next point: I think it's great that Xue Meng gets his own challenges and chances to mature but I feel he was battered too much and did not receive enough care afterwards. I mean, he is basically sad and despairing for two volumes straight with no parents and no shizun and no shixiong and no gege to offer him comfort because they have all either betrayed him or died. I mean, come on? He deserves some more love. At least he has the Mei twins to rely on but Mo Ran and Chu Wanning leaving him completely to his own devices and only giving him a letter and a sword after a year and then disappearing again? That's too heartless! (• ᴖ •｡ )

And lastly, Mo Ran switching personalities with Taxian-jun every three days because the souls only fused after such a long time. Generally, I think it's a good idea but I think 3 days is too frequent. It would've been nice to get something like: As the souls fuse together, the transformation into Taxian-jun will become less frequent. But that's just a small thing and my personal taste (..◜ᴗ◝..)