I love a book that becomes better and better the more you read. This volume is hands down my favorite so far. We finally really get to know the real Gu Mang and he is the most awesome character. Meatbun has written him so vividly that he feels like a real person, his characterstics are so defined and well-developed. He is just an absolute joy to read about. 
In addition, new plot twists are revealed, shocking and devastating alike. We are at a point where every character is suspicious. Secret motivations and underhanded deals are slowly coming to light and that leads to dramatic emotional reactions. 
I was deeply moved by the events of this book as it reminded me of a real-life injustice I witnessed and that made it even more heartbreaking. 
The biggest issue I have with this volume is the massive cliffhanger it ends on and the fact that I have to wait months to read the rest! What injustice!!!!!! 

I am utterly heartbroken yet again

Believe in me, won’t you…?

even in all of mo xi’s anger; even in all his feelings of betrayal; even in all his heartache and grief and confusion…he has always believed in gu mang. in even the deepest recesses of his heart.
 
no matter how hard he tried to bury it, it was the one thing he couldn’t suppress, even if it meant getting his own heart stabbed in the process. and he was always so angry about it. but he’s so earnest, he feels so much, and he wanted so bad to just understand. he needed to believe that there was a bigger truth at play and there was. he believed in him…

and he always will :’) 

which meant that gu mang really was never alone….

this book hurt me. a lot. and i love mo xi & gu mang so much. they’ve really been tested on for far too long and gu mang’s history continues to break my heart.  

and of course the end leaves me with a cliffhanger; why not??