The Soul Drifts Away

One-line synopsis: When the strange star rises, its name shakes the world. At fifteen, fate cuts short a life. The emperor's star shifts, the Lone Fiend is abandoned. Through life and death, fate carries on.

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Synopsis for "Soul Adrift"

"Story-style" synopsis

Yun Yiyang is an idiot. I run away whenever I see him, but he still chases me relentlessly. So for a while, whenever I met someone, I'd ask, "Is the idiot Yiyang around?"

Feng Tianxing is a lunatic. I wanted to become a proper young lady, but he wanted me to be a tomboy, and even claimed, "That's the kind of woman who can match me." So my last words were, "Tianxing, you lunatic, will you let me go?"

Sigh! I can only blame my young, foolish self for not being careful. I took Yun Yiyang's hand and fell into Feng Tianxing's embrace. From then on, I bore the burden of fate, was wounded, shed tears, suffered heartbreak, and lost years of my life.

Do I regret it? Read and find out.

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"Classical-style" synopsis

On Peach Blossom Island, five years as master and disciple bind our souls together. I use my spirit to forge a peach blossom mark for you;

Within the Prince of Qilin's estate, brother and sister share a bed, their affection running deeper than blood. I promise you a lifetime without regret through my constant companionship;

Between past lives and the present, every step is hard. I break off the engagement and sever our love, leaving you with a heart full of regret for what we lost;

Amidst the smoke of war, we brave wind and rain together and share every hardship. I shield you from a storm of arrows with my life;

In a desert oasis, we practice swordplay beneath the moon and warm wine over a plum fire. I protect you and compose a song of longing for you;

Childhood sweethearts play together, then hold hands in a moment that binds them for life. When parting becomes unbearable, I shed heroic tears for you;

This ill-fated bond was decreed by heaven. When you enter my embrace, we are bound for life. As heaven and earth are laid waste, I will forever turn against the world for you.

A cherry blossom fate, a peach blossom mark. As war spreads everywhere, where will I end up?

The strange star rises, the Emperor's Fiend appears. With destiny upon us, who owes whom?

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"Blue and White Porcelain" lyrics-style synopsis

The scenes of our past lives have faded with the passage of time,

And now, the only memories that remain are of you by my side.

Your clear eyes before the palace have already seen through my heart,

And a moment holding hands has sealed our bond for this lifetime.

Calmly facing danger together, we first reveal our heroic spirit,

Yet your bloodstained clothes make you look so radiant.

The wheel of fate has begun to turn. There is no going back to where we started.

I've seen all the world's splendor, yet all I want is to be with you. As war rages around us, I gently cut through the longing,

Leaning against you beneath the moon on the boundless grasslands, you become the loveliest memory in my heart.

I've seen all the world's love, yet all I want is to love you. Your valiant figure is forever unforgettable,

Riding freely, brandishing our weapons, and laughing as we watch the world's fortunes unfold, we write a legend for our lives.

Red candles light the bed, and mandarin ducks are woven into brocade. I gently lift the veil, your peach-blossom face reflected in my eyes,

But fate is unpredictable. In a flash, the winds change, startling the swallows into flight. The warmth lingering on my fingertips is all for naught.

Blood and tears stain my clothes red at the cliff's edge. I look back to bid you farewell. Our debt of love is already deeply rooted. My ghost takes its own life to protect the realm,

From then on, only a sea of tears of longing remains. Alone, I can no longer bear to love.

I've seen all the world's splendor, yet all I want is to be with you. As war rages around us, I gently cut through the longing,

Leaning against you beneath the moon on the boundless grasslands, you become the loveliest memory in my heart.

I've seen all the world's love, yet all I want is to love you. Your valiant figure is forever unforgettable,

Riding freely, brandishing our weapons, and laughing as we watch the world's fortunes unfold, we write a legend for our lives.

~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~☆~★~ First, "Soul Adrift" is a story I've wanted to write for a long time, one that has played over and over in my mind. This isn't just a casual project. I want to put my heart into completing it. I don't have a backlog, and write the story a little at a time each day. I may have to pause updates for one reason or another, but I won't abandon it. Thank you for your generous support of this novel. I hope it brings you a story you'll love.

Second, a note for subscribers:

All the essay chapters I've posted on the site are already complete. If you see a new update notice, it's almost always because I've revised the text. The content itself will not change. If you see an update notice on a chapter you've already read, there's no need to click on it again and waste your time.

"Online Romance" is a collection of online musings, searching for the excitement we once felt.

These are Ling Yi's early essays. If you like them, feel free to read them. If not, you can simply ignore them.