I saw someone recommend this novel on Twitter as a wholesome, light angst story. However that is not true and be prepared for some very heavy and sad themes. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting at all going into it, I was still hooked. This story really touched my heart. The beginning started off a little slow to me and I was slightly confused at points trying to follow along. But it all ties together in the end. I definitely am going to read this again just so I... more>> can see how everything pieces together from the start.

love this pairing and love this story, please give it a read! <<less

Nan Chan is and will always be one of my favourite novels ever. The most frustrating thing is how underrated it is. I was pretty scared to start reading it at first because everyone kept telling me how angsty it was but personally I didn't find it THAT angsty. It's all about the two main characters solving a mystery and encountering people and their sufferings along the way. The themes touched in the story are pretty heavy but they're told in such a beautiful way that melts your heart with... more>> a touch of fluff and comedy provided by the amazing couple. Jing Lin and Cang Ji are absolutely perfect. Their chemistry & their relationship is to die for. The side characters are amazing as well. I genuinely cannot find anything wrong with this novel. I signed up on this website only to say: please give it a chance and you won't regret it! <<less

Don't need to say much t97 is a really good author

4.88/5 for Nan Chan, there are some deductions bc of the True Buddha/Lord Jiu Tian part since I'm not too comfortable about surprising twists but there are decent foreshadowings about it, so it doesn't affect my rating that much.

t97 is such a good author QAQ

This novel is probably the best I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot. The mystery about their past is so intriguing and the reveal lives up. I rarely cry at stories, but this one had me tearing up.

The main characters are so endearing, and their relationship is so sweet and angst filled (in a good way). There’s a lot of tragedy in the book, but there’s a happy ending (for the main characters at least).

I loved this novel so much I went and tried to befriend anyone who talked about... more>> it on twitter. <<less

Finished reading it❤ totally loved both protagonists and all side characs 😭❤ Cangji is the funniest seme Ive read in danmeis lol I actually imagined him as Binghe from SVSSS w/ red and gold robes haha who wouldve thought that JL is so open w/ his feelings ✨ I thought he'd be a lil tsundere but nooo and I'm loving every second of it!

<<Ch 9>> HAHAHA
I'm only on chapter 9 and I'm already in awe of the ML, and by extension, the author's ability to infuriate me the best way possible. He's so daring. I was laughing out in anger.
This seems like an incredibly interesting read. Translation quality is highest-tier.

This novel may not be of everyone's taste.

It contains religious terms and sometimes may be confusing but definitely worth reading.

This novel is slow burn so if you are the one who likes love at first sight, then this is not your type.

Both MC and ML are strong. They had faced many hardships but finally ends together.

For me, the angst is not that much since I mostly read Tragedy types novel. But the tragedy part is still heart-wrenching.

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GeGe take me home

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Most of the side characters encounter with tragic events.

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I ship Fei Luo and Dong Jun so hard. Wish they had more interactions

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Love Tang JiuQing SO MUCH !! <<less

Literally one of the best novels I've read. For people saying it's a bad version of 2ha, well ur dumb. You have to give this novel a chance and get deeper into it before you make any dumb accusations. Cang ji and Jing Lin's love is like no other, it's not just about Cang Ji wanting to "eat" him (or is it (;)) but you find out later on why he feels that way. Plz give it a chance, don't drop it right away bc u think it's weird I... more>> promise you won't regret it. <<less

It was a really touching story. I loved it. I am surprised so many bad reviews.

Although I have to say it was a bit convoluted at the beginning and it made me think before I could understand the plot it all becomes clear as you read. Its actually very absorbing. The 1st part was sad and I admit I cried and cried and cried some more.

Then the mood changes and slowly the flashback of their past starts, tragic but... There is a happy ending and it was definitely worth the... more>> wait.

I am really glad I read it to the end, and didn't drop it at the beginning. <<less

this novel is just so tear-jerking and filled with details that's just sooo asjdkarwkjasd like yknow I cried so bad when he said, ... more>>

Spoiler

"gege... take me home."

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also the 'rape' that cang ji did, it was clearly shown that it saved the MC cuz otherwise

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he would go insane, cultivation would be ruined and potentially r*pe others because of the drug given to him by that who*e tao zhi or whatever his bit*h ass name is.

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honestly, this novel is filled with details and characters that if you dont read carefully, you can miss alot. in a way, I really dont get all the low reviews. this novel is extremely complicated to the point that if you just end up skimming through it or leave it in the middle then obviously you'll think that the novel isnt good/up to par with all the other good reviews. translation was straight up spectacular, they did such an amazing job at it.

character development 9/10, plot 100/10, angst 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10. the heartbreak man I still cant get over it. no wonder why its specifically written that its a HE. I wish I could have amnesia just so I can experience all the rollercoaster of emotions I had through it.

i still can't get over the emperor cang's and lord lin song's love story aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah my heart is fullyyyyyyyy satiated. <<less

“I’m all about the sweetness after bitterness. It’s an acquired taste.” Indeed 😭

I fortunately found this jewel in this website, bless Lianyin for translating this story and for the author to create it.

Also, Cang Ji and Jing Lin are such a perfect match, I'm kind of jealous.

For a reader loving mystery mixed with Xianxia, it goes without saying that this is going to be a golden star.

The first few chapters started the build up — a koi and a emotionless man on a hill separated far from others. Who are they? Why were they were? It was a mystery through the carp's eyes. I had to go back and do a re-read just to understand the beginning.

From there we are thrust into chasing for a bell to retrieve but it keeps getting them to relive the... more>> sins of suffering eight times. The novel focuses more on the mystery and action portion. A little sad as I would have wanted more onto the characters themselves.

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I find baby version of Cang Ji so cute! My heart bled when he was running after Jing Lin and crying fearfully and also heart pain of Jing Lin when he was trapped in his memories

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Translation wise, many thanks for the efforts!

Novel wise, I find it hard to get into. Not that the action or mystery is lacking. But I would prefer more interaction between the two leads haha.

4 Star nevertheless for the action+xianxia+gong&shou pairing <<less

Great story. Great translation as well. If you’re looking to read something that touches on politics, corruption, greed, moral issues, collusion, human trafficking, love, humor, redemption, karma and retribution, destiny, fate, friendship and just the right amount of flirting and fluff to satisfy your heart, and fight scenes then this one is worth a read (i might have missed some other topics that this story touches on but this is truly worth a read) 😊

This story is so amazing, and the translation really does it justice!

There's a great mix of mystery and mythology without getting bogged down in complex or unnecessary side plots. The translator is also very thorough with notes so it's easy to remember character's status despite the several names or titles they might have.

Also, the romance flavor is very good! If you enjoy the sort of fated yet muddled memory relationships (say, like Heaven Official's Blessing) you'll enjoy discovering every new aspect of the CP's shared past.

I envy new readers because... more>> this is definitely one that'll be good to binge (like I did until I ran out of chapters lol), and now it's completed so you can experience it all without waiting! <<less

I'm half (?) enjoying this novel.

The two main characters are interesting enough. The MC is fulled by a misplaced desire to 'devour' the MC, (because a demon fish, that's what you do to gain power) and slowly realizes that's not what he really wants to do (lul another kind of devour, I assume). But spinning it that way is interesting.

The ML, Jin Ling, is the quiet, shameless type, and clearly is despondent after whatever happened in his past. Several side characters are notable, such as small stone statue and... more>> bird child, but not involved in the story enough.

My main gripe with this novel is that while I like the main characters and their developments, is the frequent focus on other side character's stories. I'm not saying side characters getting focus is always a bad thing, but in this case I don't feel attached to this flashbacks. Although each story they go through (because of chasing a copper bell, which I presume is some kind of source to Jin ling's power) seems to be interconnected loosely to the other stories, I still don't care all that much about all the side characters. One, they are introduced too quickly and we see most of them in flash back stories. Side characters are more interesting when the act in the future WITH the MCs and plot develops that way, not in their own separate flash backs.

Another reason this copper bell chasing flash back scenario is annoying is that it is obviously delaying character development of the two MCs and the revealing of ML's past. I can already piece together a large portion of what happened to the ML, the author might as well have revealed it earlier in a flashback, and keep more of the story in the present. It delays the character development because the story literally progresses as 'MC ML talk/joke' 'they fight someone and chase copper bell 'they are s**ked into side character's flashback' 'flashback' 'flashback over, they report what happened, MC and ML almost talk about something important BUT' 'then they chase copper bell'... etc.

All in all, though, the writing style's a bit different, MC and ML just interesting enough, so I'm reading it.

Side note-this translator is doing another story with a similar plot cycle, except the MC is involved in the side character arcs more directly. So even though I find the ML and MC less interesting as characters in that story, it's a more enjoyable read over all. <<less

This is honestly one of the most heartwrenching, emotionally driven yet logically driven, slow begining novels I have ever read.

I don't normally write reviews, even for novels I loved, because, by the end of the novel, my passion would have slightly dwindled enough, that my motivation to write a review would be incredibaly weak. Nan Chan, though, only kept my passion rising.

"There's a man I love. In the clouds. In the sea. In my heart."

"I have a beloved, over the mountains and across the seas... I'm his reverse scale... My... more>> name is..."

Throughout my time reading, there were many instances where I experinced viseral overwhemling reactions, This novel has left a mark on me, that I never wish to erase. <<less

I wish I enjoyed this one more than I did.

I feel like the story fell short of expectations- it was greatly hyped as an epic romance but instead felt quite cliched and convenient how everything fell into place. The main duo were protected by plot armour time after time...

The pacing made it quite difficult to get through as it wasn’t really apparent what the ... more>>

Spoiler

copper bell

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was trying to do until well into their wild goose chase.

Their romance was the slowest of all slow burns until

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volume 4 post flashback

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It was quite an arduous read and because all the revelations and main conflict really only occur

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in volume 4

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, it made the story seem super slow and draggy in the beginning and super rushed in the end.

While I did love the two main characters, somehow I didn’t feel that attached to either of them by the end and I wasn’t even sad

Spoiler

towards the end of volume 3.. I was just waiting for past Dragon Cang Ji to die already so their current selves could get together.

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A MUST READ!!

seriously I cant describe how much this novel consumes my mind, every single part of it is just super interesting. It does take some effort to understand whats going on, not a novel you can drop for months and pick up again and still follow along normally. I lovedddd the ML and MC, especially their past life. Their relationship is really a breath of fresh air. Also tons of side couples, they pretty much make up the entire plot lmao.

5/5 a million times.

Starts of a little slow, first half is more mystery and trying to figure out who is who

and then

the second half. Oh my god.

the heartbreak, the romance, the hope, the evil

amazing. Oh what an ending.

What an absolute gem this novel turned out to be! With its lyrical fantasy and whole devotion for eternity storyline, Nan Chan draws comparisons with Tian Guan Ci Fu. But the best feature of Tang Jiuqing is her atmospheric writing that gives a dreamlike flavor to her tale.

Based on a combination of Chinese folklore and mythology, Nan Chan introduces a world of deities, dragons and other wondrous figures. It's a fantasy in the truest sense, playing with the beauty of metamorphosis and rebirth. The core of the novel is a... more>> simple story about a fallen god named Jing Lin and a demonic carp which feeds of his spiritual energy, Cang Ji. They are lovers whose fates intertwined a thousand of years ago, but they lost their memories and powers. As they travel together to seek a magical copper bell, they learn of their past secrets and sufferings.

I've experienced all the eight sufferings of this world. I do not ask for nirvana, but for you.

Nan Chan is a very sentimental story with philosophy and poetry spread through all the pages. If you want a straightforward plot, this novel is not going to deliver. Temporal leaps and dreams of the past alternate with contemplative moments and tragic twists. But towards the end the threads come together beautifully, weaving a rich tapestry of love and loss, joy and regret. While the plot takes its time coming together, the journey is nothing short of magical. The building up of the atmosphere is marvelous and the imagery is fantastic in all senses. A carp in a porcelain bowl, a five colored bird, a little stone figure, a copper bell... I especially love the imagery of the main pairing: the lotus flower and the fish-dragon, complementing each other like water and sky. But their love is pure FIRE. Have I already mentioned that I am a sucker for star-crossed lovers who are tied together for all lifetimes by a red thread? I also admit I have a dark taste for arrogant, possessive and h**ny gongs who call their partners "gege". So I can't think of anything more romantic than Cang Ji ravishing Jing Lin from the heavens to have his wicked way with him! The erot*c scenes at the end are hot enough that I actually had butterflies in my stomach while reading. Yet, these scenes are often veiled as if they were unfolding in a dream. Some pages filled with metaphors about desire, excitement and pleasure read almost like poetry:

Jing Lin turned as soft as a mass of clouds, then as wet as a fog of mist. His slightly raised and quivering neck was a temptation that roused in Cang Ji the desire to bite it. Cang Ji kissed it. A blush gradually washed over Jing Lin, like red-colored rainwater blossoming on light and thin rice paper. It turned him into the under-ripe lotus blossom in the violent storm. Pry it apart, and there were still traces of ivory white to be seen, but its tips were already so flushed it would not hold up to another bout of caresses. (Lianyin's translation)

As this excerpt illustrates, the writing is full of literary grace. It has this mystical feeling about it that I usually associate with ancient tales or the dream world. The words themselves moved my imagination, chilled my heart, or filled me with such romantic ecstasy I felt like I was on crack. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. While Lianyin's translation is top notch gorgeous, I hope Nan Chan will be licensed in English by an independent publisher. That kind of imagistic story begs for a manhua adaptation too! <<less