Lust and Longing in Ballad of Sword and Wine

Tension & Build Up

I’m not sure I’ve ever read any hotter enemies-to-lovers sex scene in any genre than the first encounter between Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye.  The tension building up to it is exquisite, with the attraction between the two leads growing even as (maybe even because) their suspicion and distrust remains.  This is on full display in chapters 31 and 32.  Xiao Chiye encourages Shen Zechuan to remove his clothes in order to spar together:

“ALL THE MORE REASON for you to take them off.” […]

“If you want some pointers, say so.” Shen Zechuan drew an arc on the ground with his foot. “All this about taking your clothes off just makes you sound like a beast.” […]

“My wish is to be a beast in human clothing.” Xiao Chiye strode down the steps and into the curtain of rain. “I almost killed you five years ago with that kick. Do you hate me for it?”

“If I say yes, would it not sound like I’ve been tossing and turning at night thinking of you?” Shen Zechuan said. “Nope. I don’t hate you at all.” […]

His next punch struck at empty air, but as Shen Zechuan spun to evade the blow, Xiao Chiye’s hand brushed against a lock of inky hair that had fluttered up in the rain.

The rain-soaked lock slipped reluctantly past Xiao Chiye’s fingertips, leaving them damp and tingling, as if wanting more.

“We’re done here.” Xiao Chiye suddenly clenched his fist and looked at Shen Zechuan. “The rain is getting heavier.”

Shen Zechuan glanced back. “Are you done feeling me up?”

“Not soft, but not hard either,” Xiao Chiye answered without batting an eyelash.

“I thought you were going to start tearing my clothes off.” Shen Zechuan’s tone was mocking.

“If that’s what I was after,” Xiao Chiye said, “we would certainly be baring more than our hearts to each other right now.”

[…]

Shen Zechuan slowly stood. Droplets traced the contours of his chest, and his hair scattered like ink in the water, as if he were a pale magnolia emerging from this heavy mist.

Xiao Chiye couldn’t stand it anymore. Why had he thought of a flower? He watched, wide-eyed, as Shen Zechuan drew closer. […]

Xiao Chiye reached an arm back to pull a garment from the clothing rack, then shoved it into the water to cover his lap. He looked calmly at Shen Zechuan. “What? Surprised? I was afraid you’d get funny ideas at the sensual sight of Er-gongzi, so I covered up for you.”

And the next day, we learn there was more than just lust at play in that seemingly off-hand clothing grab:

Removing the eastern pearl from his sleeve, Shen Zechuan held it between his fingertips and scrutinized it in the dim light. But before he could unwrap the strip of cloth around it, he paused. When he undressed, he had placed the eastern pearl into the right sleeve pocket of his robe. But just now, he had found it in the left.

The Draw

This delicious teasing continues throughout the entire first volume of the English transition.  Part of the draw for the reader is the reason they both feel attracted to each other in the first place: both of them struggling alone in a sea of plots and villainy.  There’s also the hard-won mutual respect and admiration they have for one another and their skills, despite the lingering distrust.  Xiao Chiye is well aware that Shen Zechuan would and could kill him if he decided it was advantageous.

And maybe that’s part of what Xiao Chiye appreciates as well—this is an encounter with an antagonist, a rival, or maybe a match?  The way Shen Zechuan protects Xiao Chiye through the night during the coup attempt at the hunting grounds lingers in Xiao Chiye’s psyche.  Both Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan are undoubtedly lonely, but they also both have a healthy respect for their own abilities and think of those around them more as pawns than peers.  Sometimes there is nothing more alluring than a true equal.

Succumbing

So why does Shen Zechuan eventually give in?  Xiao Chiye has been taunting and teasing him for ages, and yet it is Shen Zechuan who initiates their first kiss, escalating from teasing to intimacy:

Is it just loneliness and arousal?  Is it undeniable attraction?  Maybe a heady mix of everything.

Translation

I initially read the fan translation by Lianyin before SevenSeas released the first volume of the officially licensed book.  I later read the official first volume over again, and thought that the first sex scene played out subtly differently between the two.  The SevenSeas translation is a little more explicit, with clear descriptions of some of the physical acts that are more poetic and alluded to in the fan translation.

Ultimately I’m grateful to have read both versions, and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite.  The poetic quality of the fan translation is delightfully atmospheric and really gives a sense of the interplay and heat between the characters.  On the other hand, the official translation helped ground me a little more in the physical acts, showing the connection and emotion between the characters to great affect.  My recommendation: if you’re the sort of person to read a long blog post about how hot a sex scene in a book is, you’re likely to appreciate reading both.

The fan translation is not widely available any longer, but thankfully SevenSeas is taking great care of us with the first 3 volumes of Ballad of Sword and Wine already available, the fourth available in May, and more to come. Even if you’ve managed to snag the fan translation, please make sure to buy the official licensed releases too, since it helps beloved authors pay the bills and ensures publishers know that we love this content and want more of it.

Conclusion

While this is not in any way intended to be a full review of QJJ, if you’re on the fence I definitely recommend this book.  The politics are dense and layered, and everything isn’t always as it seems.  This is an amazing saga with really compelling characters and plenty of hot sex (although not sure anything else hits quite as intensely as this very first tryst) and a truly beautiful romance between two almost-broken people coming back from the edge together.  If you want to support Danmei Dreams, you can order Ballad of Sword and Wine/Qiang Jin Jiu through my bookshop.org affiliate link, or pick it up anywhere that sells SevenSeas.