thousand autumns volume 1

Thousand Autumns Volume 1 by Meng Xi Shi

Series: Thousand Autumns #1
Published on March 14, 2023 by Seven Seas
Age Range: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Representation: M/M romance, Chinese cast

Rating:

Synopsis:

Shen Qiao is a devout Daoist priest who has spent his life honing his skills and spirit, leading his sect with martial talent, beauty beyond measure, and an earnest heart. His polar opposite, Yan Wushi, leads one of the most powerful demonic sects and is said to be unrivaled in his strength and cunning. Yan Wushi believes in the inherently selfish nature of all people—himself included—and that nobody is above committing dark deeds for their own benefit.

When a fight leaves Shen Qiao injured, blind, and with hazy memories, Yan Wushi takes in the defeated sect leader with a dark plan: test the limits of the man’s patience and faith in others to lure him onto the demonic path. Little does he know that he is about to meet the first immovable force of his life, and that two hearts can connect in unexpected ways. With the passing of a thousand autumns, who can stay eternal?

Goodreads

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Before you venture further, just know that this post will contain all sorts of spoilers you don’t wanna know if you haven’t read the book and have intentions to do so. You’ll be spoiled from the start to the end.

Known about Thousand Autumns when the donghua (animation) was introduced into my YouTube algorithm after I watched The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System. For some reason, I wasn’t too interested in the show so I stopped halfway. After this, I’m definitely going back to rewatch the whole series. [I wonder why they made the creative decision to change Yan Wushi’s robes from blue to purple.]

Felt bad for Shen Qiao throughout the book because he was always recovering and then getting injured during a fight and then recovering and then getting injured. The cycle just continues. He simply couldn’t catch a break. Also! Most of the time, he wasn’t even supposed to be in the fight. Yan Wushi kept making other people fight with Shen Qiao. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yan Wushi started to get more flirtatious at the end of Volume 1 but I wonder if it’s just because he’s more mischievous around Shen Qiao since he liked to tease him. Regardless, I can’t wait to continue the story. Maybe, one day, I’ll read the Chinese version too.

Between Banbu Peak (Half-Step Peak) and Yinghui Peak (Certain-Regret Peak)

20 years ago,

Xandu Mountain’s Perfected Master Qi Fengge defeated the Göktürks’ number one martial artist Hulugu at Banbu Peak. Master Qi forced Hulugu to stay out of the Central Plains for the next 20 years.
Now, Feng Qingge has been dead for 5 years.
- Current sect leader of Xandu Mountain (“The World’s Number One Daoist Sect”): Shen Qiao (one of Qi Fengge’s personal disciples)

5 years ago,

Yuwen Yong, emperor of Zhou, plotted to attack Qi.
After Qi Fengge’s death, ranking of the world’s top 10 martial artists changed.
- Top 3:
  - Yi Pichen of Chunyang Monastery on Qingcheng Mountain (school of Daoism)
  - Buddhist Master Xueting of Zhou (school of Buddhism)
  - Ruyan Kehui of Linchuan Academy (school of Confucianism)

Kunye

Hulugu’s disciple; current number one martial artist of the Göktürks and Wise King of the Left.

Yan Wushi and Yu Shengyan saw a man plummeting down from above. He had a sword Shanhe Tongbei, the sword of the Xuandu Violet Palace’s sect leader. This man is Shen Qiao.

They brought him back to Hanyue Sect.
Yan Wushi wanted to train the once-sanctimonious and tenderhearted sect leader of Xandu Mountain into a disciple of the demonic cultivation. He’ll become someone completely immortal in the eyes of the world.

Riyue Mountain’s Riyue Sect in Fenglin Province splintered into 3 branches

Huanyue Sect:
- Yan Wushi
  - Emerged from 10 years of seclusion after losing a battle to the grandmaster of the demonic sects, Cui Youwang.
- Yu Shengyan
  - entered discipleship beneath Yan Wushi at 7 years old.
Hehuan Sect:
- Yuan Xiuxiu
  - lover Sang Jingxin who was Cui Youwang’s disciple
Fajing Sect

The land

North:
- Zhou:
  - Yuwen Hu: close to Buddhist Master Xueting → Yuwen Yong doesn’t believe in any school of thought.
  - Yan Wushi was under another identity in Zhou. He was the assistant to the then Duke of Lu, Yuwen Yong. Fled when he was injured by Cui Young. Left eldest disciple, Bian Yanmei, by Yuwen Yong’s side.
  - Yuwen Yong supported Huanyue Sect, vice versa
- Qi:
  - Gao Wei is emperor; close to Hehuan Sect
South:
- Chen Dynasty: Confucian Linchuan Academy whose master Ruyan Kehui was single-minded in his service to the Chen Emperor
Borders:
- Göktürks
- Tuyuhun

@ Huanyue Sect

Shen Qiao has woken up. He’s blind and has amnesia.

Yan Wushi and Yu Shengyan lied to Shen Qiao and said he’s part of the sect and those people who injured him were from Hehuan Sect.
Yan Wushi went to fight against Kunye and won. His moniker “Demon Lord” resurfaced.
- Through this match, he wants to find the whereabouts of one of the Zhuyang Strategy scrolls.
  - 50 years ago, Tao Hongjing (grandmaster) met an immortal on Mount Mao and was granted the Dengzhen Instructions which has 4 parts.
  - He organised three of them into a manual called the Dengzhen Concealed Instructions.
  - For the remaining part, Tao Hongjing fashioned it into a separate book because its contents were about the union of man and heaven through cultivation, and he added his learnings into it. It’s called Zhuyang Strategy.
  - After Tao Hongjing’s death, Mount Mao’s Shangqing Sect was embroiled in dynastic politics. As the Liang Dynasty fell, the five volumes of Zhuyang Strategy were scattered throughout the land. Each volume corresponded to five phases and to each vital organs of the human body.
    - Volumes: Conscious Mind, Corrupted Anima, Lost Soul, Cloud Essence, Deluded Thought
    - The 5 Volumes
      1. Xuandu Mountain: Qing Fengge’s cultivation benefitted from Zhuyang Strategy
      2. Zhou’s inner palace: Yan Wushi found this hidden within Zhou Palace and benefitted from it.
      3. Tiantai Sect
      4. + 5. whereabouts unknown.
Yan Wushi wanted Yu Shengyan to bring Shen Qiao to kill Yan Zhiwen (Grandmaster of Remonstrative) and his family, who is a part of Hehuan Sect.

@ Yan Zhiwen’s House

Yu Shengyan couldn’t find Yan Zhiwen nor his family there.
Shen Qiao informed Yan Zhiwen to escape through passing Han Eeying a box of his medical danggui with a note.

“When it comes to worth, every heart weighs it differently. Grudges have a source, and debts a debtor, but involving innocent people should never be commended. When you don’t save the people you could have, when you don’t take action when you could have, a shadow lodges in your heart forever. Whether other people know about it–whether they’ll feel grateful–that’s their business.”

Yan Wushi knew that Shen Qiao will do something to disrupt the killings so he informed, through note, that Shen Qiao should leave by himself.

@ An abandoned temple

Shen Qiao meets Chen Gong, 16 years old, who chased away two beggars after fighting for the donkey meat sandwich Shen Qiao had with him.
Earning money through reading palms and telling fortunes, Shen Qiao managed to feed himself (and Chen Gong).
The two beggars brought their beggar guild to beat up Chen Gong (and Shen Qiao) but the latter drove them away.

@ Chuyun Temple

Shen Qiao and Chen Gong journeyed together and rested at Chuyun Temple. There, they met people from Liuhe Guild that Chen Gong wanted to join.
Those people are Yun Fuyi (deputy leader), Liu Qingya, Shangguan Xingchen, Hu Yu, and Hu Yan. They were transporting cargo.
Murong Xun, Murong Qin, and Tuoba Liangzhe appeared. They’re part of the Qi Dynasty
Cargo were Xue Rong’s books, rumoured to have included Zhuyang’s Strategy’s Volume of Deluded Thought
Bai Rong from Hehuan Sect was there as well. When this young monk was gonna use Chen Gong as a shield, Shen Qiao saved him. Yan Wushi saved Shen Qiao from Bai Rong’s attacks.
Buddhist Master Xueting, the ex-State Preceptor of Zhou, arrived to find the Zhuyang’s Strategy as well, such that he can return to its original owner. It’s speculated that he read two volumes already–one when he was in Zhou, the other when he was a disciple of Tiantai Sect.
Yan Wushi passed the Zhuyang’s Strategy to Shen Qiao and then said
- “Don’t you all want to see what’s written in there? There’s no point to all this fighting–it’s better if everyone gets a share. Of course, if I were to read the scroll aloud, no one would believe me. And if you were to read it, I wouldn’t believe you either. So, I’ll give it to him to read. That’s better. How much he reads, and how much you hear, willl have to depend on your own good fortune.”

Yan Wushi let Shen Qiao temporarily regain some of his sight so that he can read the scroll. After Shen Qiao finished reading it aloud, Yan Wushi destroyed that volume. Everyone left after.

In a world like this, without the necessary strength, you could end up as prey at any moment. You could die for no reason whatsoever.

outside,

When Shen Qiao and Chen Gong, Bai Rong and her shixiong, Huo Xijing, appeared to make them write down what Shen Qiao recited last night.
- Huo Xijing: voice was old, face was young. He used a technique called “Stolen Sky and Counterfeit Sun”, a face-changing technique.
Shen Qiao and Chen Gong parted ways in case the bad guys come chasing after the former.
Chen Gong met The Commander Prince, Mu Tipo, who was on a “human hunting” activity. When he begged for his life, Mu Tipo wanted to bring Chen Gong back as a male concubine. To save his own life, he brought Mu Tipo to Shen Qiao who was still at the inn.
Shen Qiao managed to fight his way through and got a carriage out of the city. He knocked the prince out and castrated him to prevent him from harming others in the future.
Then, Yan Wushi showed himself after witnessing the situation from Chen Gong’s betrayal to now.

on the way to Xuandu Mountain,

Yan Wushi struck at Shen Qiao causing him to spit out all his stagnant blood. His qi started to flow through him properly.

Meet what’s strong with strength, and what’s soft with softness. Once the union is flawless and complete, the will of heaven shall become as clear as water.

Shen Qiao have already cultivated using the Zhuyang’s Strategy scroll, the Volume of Lost Soul, at Xuandu Mountain.
Yan Wushi made Shen Qiao recite the Volume of Deluded Thought to stimulate his memories. He’s following Shen Qiao to Xuandu Mountain to learn the Volume of Lost Soul.
In 10 days, Xuandu’s Violet Palace will hold a Jade Terrace Discussion where they’ll determine the path of orthodoxy should take. Someone is acting sect leader.

@ Xuandu Mountain

Yu Ai: Qi Fengge’s third disciple and older but has to call Shen Qiao shixiong because the latter was Qi Fengge’s second.
- He poisoned Shen Qiao with Joyful Reunion the day of the fight against Kunye
- He colluded with Kunye because he no longer wants the sect to influence the mundane affairs rather than being secluded from the outside world.
- He wanted to stop Shen Qiao from leaving and started fighting Yan Wushi who stepped in.
- Tan Yuanchun (first disciple/”shixiong”) appeared and seems like he’s supporting Yu Ai in his ideologies
- Seeing that there’s no use in staying, Shen Qiao left with Yan Wushi.
Qi Fengge gave 3 swords to his disciples
- Shen Qiao: Shanhe Tongbei (山河同悲 “The mountains and rivers too are grieving”)
- Gu Hengbo (youngest/only girl): Tianwei Sheichun (天为谁春 “For whom does spring come?”)
- Yu Ai: Junzi Buqi (君子不器 “A true gentleman is unlike a tool”)

after leaving Xuandu Mountain

Qi Fengge only let Shen Qiao cultivate the Volume of Lost Soul.
Yan Wushi wanted to fight Shen Qiao such that he can learn what he had absorbed from Volume of Lost Soul.
- Xuandu Mountain’s skills:
  - Qinggong: “A Rainbow Stretches Across the Heavens”, “Body to Shadow, Phase and Replace”
  - Azure Waves sword techniques: “The Cool Breeze Gently Blows”, “Three Parts in Musical Harmony”, “Rising Waves Form Blue Mountains”, “The Sun and Moon Reside Within”, “Auspicious Clouds Roll in from the East”
- Yan Wushi’s main technique: “Spring Waters Finger Technique” (used his finger as substitute for a lost sword.)

The peace he felt now came after he was lashed by winds and rain, beset by defeat and hardships. After the tumult of a storm on the sea, the moon rises high above the clouds, painting the water and the heavens in one color. No billows or swells, no joy or sorrow. In late spring the thick brush grows, early autumn sees the layered clouds drift; within the well a lone lamp shines, upon the coloured glaze does the moonlight glint.

Shen Qiao fainted after receiving a blow during the fight. During this time, Yan Wushi used “Demonic Persuasion” to attack Shen Qiao’s Daoist Core. Yan Wushi brought him away when Shen Qiao refused to speak.
They headed to Northern Zhou. Yan Wushi started acting like they are lovers.

spoon-feeding

Yan Wushi followed up with spoon after spoon, and in the blink of an eye, he’d fed Shen Qiao half the bowl. The entire time, his gaze was attentive and careful, and he wore a soft smile, as if he looked upon something beloved.

@ an inn

he just likes teasing shen qiao

If Shen Qiao hadn’t possessed a fair understanding of him, he would have thought Yan Wushi really did want him for a kept man. But in truth, Yan Wushi was only acting on a whim, for the fun of watching Shen Qiao squirm. It was just like back when he’d incidentally saved Shen Qiao beneath Banbu Peak.

Shen Qiao hasn’t fully comprehended the volume Qi Fengge had passed on to him and now he had the Volume of Deluded Thought to contemplate.
Xie Xiang and Zhan Ziqian of Linchuan Academy were there as well.
- Xie Xiang: from Chen Commandery’s Xie family, Linchuan Academy’s most outstanding disciple of his generation. rumoured to be Ruyan Kehui’s successor
Xie Xiang asked Yan Wushi to fight with him but Yan Wushi said if Xie Xiang can defeat Shen Qiao, he’ll fight him.
- Techniques: “Destroying Gold and Fracturing Jade”
- Weapon: jade ruler
Shen Qiao got injured again

never say never, shen qiao. this is called danmei for a reason~

But Yan Wushi seemed to find it amusing that Shen Qiao had prepared him an evening snack. He changed the topic and said, all smiles, “A-Qiao is so tender and attentive! If you ever find someone to love, I’m certain you’d be even more caring. Anyone lucky enough to be loved by you must have spent dozens of lifetimes cultivating their good fortune!”
His use of “A-Qiao” jolted through Shen Qiao like lightning, leaving him numb. He had to say, “Please don’t joke around, Sect Leader Yan. The moment I became a Daoist, I resolved to stay unmarried for the rest of my life.”

@ Northern Zhou, Chang’an

Bian Yanmei is awaiting Yan Wushi’s arrival with his personal servant, Ji Ying, who is actually Huo Xijing after he took Ji Ying’s face.
Yan Wushi appeared when Bian Yanmei and Huo Xijing were fighting. Thinking fighting Shen Qiao is an easier way out, he attacked Shen Qiao.
Yuan Xiuxiu appeared. Although rumoured to be Sang Jingxing’s lover, the two couldn’t stand each other so when Huo Xijing begged for her help, Yuan Xiuxiu didn’t immediately helped.
While Yuan Xiuxiu and Yan Wushi fought, Shen Qiao killed Huo Xijing. Yuan Xiuxiu heavily injured Shen Qiao and left after Yan Wushi stopped the second attack.

“hasn’t been sleeping much?” “at night?”

“Only half of his martial arts are left. Besides, lately I’ve been keeping him busy at night, so he hasn’t been sleeping much. It’s natural that he’s a bit tired during the day.”
He only glossed over the topic, but Bian Yanmei couldn’t help but read into it.
What did he mean, “keeping him busy at night,” and “hasn’t been sleeping much”…
With wording like that, of course he misunderstood.
The actual situation was like this. Yan Wushi had been forcing Shen Qiao to spar with him of late, and in order to wring out Shen Qiao’s potential, Yan Wushi never went easy on him.

let’s hold hands 🤝🏻

“Is it good news for me?” asked Shen Qiao. “Or good news for Sect Leader Yan?”
”Of course it’s for you,” said Yan Wushi. “How can you make such malicious assumptions about me? I’m heartbroken.”
As he spoke, he pressed in closer, his voice dropping low and tinged with a hint of flirtatiousness.
No matter how many times this exact situation played out these days, Shen Qiao could never get used to it. He angled his head slightly away, avoiding the warm breath that wafted onto his face.
He might have been able to turn his head away, but his ear was still vulnerable.
The shell and lobe of his ear Aushed with a soft layer of pink like scarlet mark on white jade. Anyone would long to touch it.
And Yan Wushi did exactly that. Shen Qiao had nowhere to hide–he had to raise a hand to block him. With one sitting and the other leaning over, the two of them exchanged dozens of moves in an instant. Unsurprisingly, this ended wich Shen Qiao being pulled into Yan Wushi’s arms.
Yan Wushi clicked his tongue. “You’re too skinny. Holding you doesn’t feel good at all.”

@ Jade Terrace Discussion
- Liu Qingyu (disciple of Chunying Monastery’s Yi Pichen) left their mountain for the first time and immediately defeated monk Xueting’s disciple; Liansheng, Lianchuan Academy’s He Siyong; and two Xuandu Mountain’s elders.
- Bested Li Qingyu but only by half a move.
Yu Ai might really be working with the Göktürks as an envoy from Ishbara Khagan ascended Xuandu Mountain and asked them to send a preacher to the Eastern Göktürks Khaganate
- Taspar Khagan: Khaganate’s supreme ruler
- Ishbara Khagan “Shetu” (nephew): rules over Eastern Khaganate
- his younger brother rules over Western Khaganate
Su Wuwei (Su Wei): Duke of Meiyang County, married to Yuwen Hu’s daughter
- Su Qiao: brother, shixiong of Li Qingyu

don’t want to hold hands 🤝🏻

Seeing how Shen Qiao was listening with rapt attention, he moved to grab his hand and toy with it again.
But Shen Qiao’s guard had been up for some time–he simply put his hands behind his back. After a while, he seemed to realize that this reaction was somewhat childish, so he moved his hands back in front of himself and tucked them into his sleeves instead.
Yan Wushi clicked his tongue. “I’m feeding and housing you, and I’m even bringing you all this news, but you’re so stingy! You won’t even let me touch your hand!”

@ Su Wei’s mother’s 50th birthday celebration

Shen Qiao went in place of Yan Wushi
Sat beside Puliuru Jian who told Shen Qiao who were present:
- “Twin Jades of Qingcheng”: Su Qiao and Liu Qingyu
- Zhangsun Cheng: Zhongnan Sect (not well known sect but he’s from a deathly family)
- Dou Yanshan: leader of the Liuhe Guild
Duan Wenyang had two reasons of appearing
1. Pass the empress’ congratulatory gift to Su Wei’s mother.
  - The Empress of Zhou had the last name Ashina (was Göktürk)
2. Ask Madam Qin to return his shizun’s (Hulugu’s) keepsake which also represents his identity
  - Keepsake: ring with a golden lotus engraving
    - golden lotus: symbol of the Göktürks and the sacred emblem of Zoroastrianism
  - Madam Qin took the ring to prevent Hulugu from calling all martial experts in Persia, Tuyuhun, Khotan, and Tangut to gather in the Khaganate and support the Göktürk Khagan in invading the Central Plains
- Duan Wenyang only came now as it was Hulugu’s last request before he passed away.
Duan Wenyang knew that Shen Qiao is a sect leader and called him out.

📜 What a cliffhanger!! We spent the whole book with fellow jianghu people not knowing who Shen Qiao is because he’s a secluded sect leader. When the only person who recognised him exposed his identity, it’s at a birthday banquet that gathered the jianghu people and those who met him throughout the book in one place.

Also, I think it’s because Shen Qiao’s the successor of Qi Fengge who defeated Hulugu and prevented him from coming back to the Central Plains for 20 years. I wonder how everyone’s gonna react.

Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou’s great at writing fighting scenes and since I’ve always loved wuxia settings, this was a treat! Although the translation is good, I think reading it in the original Chinese language would feel different. Hopefully, I’m gonna do that in the future. Now, I just need to know everyone’s reaction to Sect Leader Shen’s presence at the celebration. That’s all I can think about.

thousand autumns volume 1 – meng xi shi