In the turmoil of the late Tang Dynasty, people are devious, and kindness has always been the most fatal weakness.
In her previous life, Xu Yan was gentle and mild, yielding and accommodating at every turn, and generous and forgiving toward others.
But her kindness was repaid with ever-increasing exploitation; her concessions led to her entire family being brought to ruin.
Only when her life ended and the lights went out did she finally understand: in a chaotic age, the softhearted are doomed to die miserably!
Reborn in the twelfth year of the Dazhong era, she tears away her mask of meekness and casts aside every last trace of misplaced compassion.
She exposes her greedy clan in public; she cuts all ties with her hypocritical friends and family.
The world condemns her as cold-blooded, harsh, heartless, and ungrateful.
Only Xiao Yu, the cold-faced imperial guard, bows to her with single-minded devotion and stands against the corruption of the age for her.
If she dares to turn against someone, he dares to hand her the blade; if she wants to settle accounts, he dares to punish the wicked.
He sees how cold the world is and never urges her to be kind. He willingly bears the bloodshed on her behalf and clears every obstacle in her path.
“Ah Yan, if this world forces you to be good, then I'll be the wicked one for you. You don't have to be kind. I'll take care of everything.”
She casts off her gentle warmth and wields her sharp edge to defy fate; he takes up his blade to rule the world, devoting the rest of his life to protecting one person.
Adrift in a chaotic age, they depend on each other.
In this life, they will settle old scores, protect their loved ones, and break through every impasse. Together, they will defy destiny in the decaying late Tang and fight their way to a bright new beginning!
