- Drama Title: Love on the Turquoise Land
- Also Known As: 枭起青壤, An Owl Rising from the Green Soil, Xiao Qi Qing Rang
- Director: Tian Li, He Tan
- Genres: Thriller, Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Cast: Dilraba Dilmurat, Chen Xing Xu
- Number of Episodes: 32
- Aired: November 22, 2025 – December 6, 2025
- Original Network: Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: Tencent Video, WeTV, Viki
- Adapted from the novel “An Owl Rising from the Green Soil” by Wei Yu
Dear readers, how are you today? December 2025 is almost over now, and have you prepared for your New Year’s party yet? Whether it’s choosing an outfit, planning the menu, or convincing yourself that staying at home also counts as a celebration. As for me, I‘ve already run out of battery. December is a socially exhausting month, really. So, let’s just sit down and talk about something beautiful and meaningful. Like Dilireba and Chen Xing Xu’s drama, Love on the Turquoise Land review. Happy reading!
Love on the Turquoise Land Synopsis
A thousand years ago, a meteor crashed into the South Mountain and created a place called Turquoise Land. From it, bloodthirsty creatures known as the Earth Fiend emerged. It fed on human flesh and terrorized people.
A group of people was tasked to hunt and sealed them under a dark iron gate. Over time, those guardians became a millennium-old secret organization, the South Mountain Hunters.
Nie Jiu Lou is a talented sculptor who prefers a solitary life. To others, she is just an artist who loves to travel around in search of artistic inspiration. No one would associate her to Turquoise Land, let alone to the South Mountain Hunters.
But in reality, she is the descendant of the Clan Blade, one of the hunters’ bloodlines. However, Nie Jiu Luo had long decided to leave the hunters’ world and choose to live as an ordinary person.
During a trip to the mountain, she accidentally encounters a new type of Earth Fiend. This discovery leads her to Yan Tuo, a wealthy young man whose life was controlled by his stepmother, Lin Xi Rou. Yan Tuo has been searching for the truth surrounding his life and family.
The two started off as enemies. But as their paths intertwine, they realized that they are facing the same enemies. Trust and affection began to grow. Fighting side by side against the Earth Fiends, Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo also learn to face their past and accept it as part of who they are.
Love on the Turquoise Land Drama Review
At first, the title made me expect something soft and romantic. But the poster told a different story. Usually, mystery works well as a backdrop for romance. Just look at Snowfall, a fantasy romance drama wrapped in a vampire mystery. In the end, the main focus of the drama was still the romance.
Love on the Turquoise Land does the opposite. The mystery is the main course. Romance is the side dish. Surprisingly, both were equally delicious. I just can’t get enough of this drama because the story and the acting are superb. Without a doubt, I would say that this is Dilireba’s best drama in 2025. FYI, I also watched Sword Rose, but I think this one is better.
Dilireba has been acting since 2013. I got to know her from Eternal Love, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. I have watched many of her dramas: The King’s Woman, The Flame’s Daughter, Eternal Love of Dream, You Are My Glory, The Long Ballad, The Blue Whisper, The Legend of Anle, Love Designer, and Sword Rose. I used to say that my favourite was The Blue Whisper. But now I might say Love on the Turquoise Land.
She often played tough characters and was familiar with martial arts. Dilireba was already proficient in dancing before she started learning to act. She has physical agility and good control of her body.
Performing both dancing and martial arts choreography looked effortless for her. Dilireba seemed born to be in the entertainment world. Her strong presence fills the screen. Whether she is standing still or in the middle of a fight, you just cannot look away from her.
On the other hand, I haven’t watched many of Chen Xing Xu’s dramas. However, I had a good impression of him in Our Interpreter, Goodbye, My Princess, and The Starry Love. This timeI was completely mesmerized by his depiction of Yan Tuo.
Chen Xing Xu portrayed Yan Tuo‘s stubbornness, naivety, and quiet warmth perfectly. You could feel sincerity in his performance. By the end of the drama, Yan Tuo no longer feels like a character, but someone you genuinely root for.
The most notable aspect of Love on the Turquoise Land is the explosive chemistry between Dilireba and Chen Xing Xu. They were perfect for each other, and I can’t imagine anyone else playing Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo. When they share the screen, neither of them faded into the background.
Instead, their lifted each other up. Chen Xing Xu’s calm and steady presence balances Dilireba’s energy. I am pretty sure that just like me, you would find their interactions feel natural and convincing.
The love between Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo is different from that between Jiang Mu and Jin Zhao in Speed and Love. Their love is more subtle and mature than fiery and intense.
You wouldn’t sense the raging hormones, but you could feel the warmth. There was no dramatic confession, no impulsive kisses. Just two adults falling in love responsibly. This is the kind of relationship that won’t trend on social media, but it might actually last. 🩷
Love on Turquoise Land was adapted from a novel titled An Owl Rising from the Green Soil by author Wei Yu. I haven’t read the novel, so I can’t compare it. However, the layered story, the complicated characters and their personal growth in this drama were all well written.
The original creator of Love on Turquoise Land is the same person who wrote The Seven Relics of Ill Omen, Parallel World, and Rattan drama. So, you could see she is very proficient in crafting mystery stories. In this drama, she weaved a story that combined mystery with romance, modernity with legend.
These paradoxical element blends seamlessly and gives the story its unique charm. If you haven’t watched this drama yet, give it try and watch a few episodes. I am sure you’ll instantly become hooked on the story.
However, this drama also has its own flaws. At first, the plot is rather confusing. But that is how they introduce us to the mystery’s main focus, the Earth Fiends. The story picks up pace later on when Yan Tuo and Nie Jiu Luo decided to form a partnership.
As the mystery deepens, so does the romance. The only part that felt rushed was the ending of the mystery arc, which left the romance arc as the main focus until the end of the drama. The final episode has its own surprises, along with an extremely frustrating cliffhanger ending. I hope there will be a next season. I’m ready. Mentally, at last. 😤
The Story – Same Old Hunters, Brand New Nightmares
The South Mountain Hunters (the Nanshan Hunters) is a secret organization that has existed for more than a thousand years. They have dealt with Earth Fiends for so long that they know them almost too well. Since the beginning, South Mountain Hunters have consisted of three clans: Hound, Whip, and Blade.
The Hound clan consists of people with an exceptional sense of smell. They could detect the Fiends by their scents. Because they had more members and could detect the Fiends, the Hounds became the leaders. The Blade and the Whip clans were always in command.
The Whip clan could subdue and tame the Fiends with their special whip. The Blade was the only one who could destroy a Fiend completely. If a Fiend was injured, even critically, it would enter a hibernation state for three to six months. Sometimes it would happen faster. Once it had completely healed, it would live again.
Mad Blade, the Hunters’ last resort and the strongest warrior of the Blade clan, was the only one who could kill the Fiends completely. The strongest warrior from the Hound was called Mad Dog. The one who wielded the special whip was called Ghost Whip.
The modern South Mountain Hunters were led by Jiang Bai Chuan of the Hound Clan. He is the one who took Nie Jiu Luo from her aunt’s home and brought her into the organization. Mad Dog is Xing Shen, Ghost Whip is Yu Rong, and the Mad Blade is Nie Jiu Luo. Among them, only Mad Blade’s identity was hidden from the world.
The interaction between the strongest warriors is quite interesting. Xing Shen and Nie Jiu Luo have known each other since they were young and are quite close. However, the relationship became strained after she left the Hunters. Both Xing Shen and Nie Jiu Luo both have complicated personalities.
Xing Shen is enigmatic and hard to read. Nie Jiu Luo was very stubborn and cold. Only Yu Rong was more normal. She might look like a carefree street-punk rebel, but she showed that she has more patience, understanding, and compassion compared to her partners.
Once you saw her, you couldn’t help but like her. 😉
The Earth Fiends used to be monsters with wide mouths and sharp teeth. They didn’t seem to have eyes, and their bodies were like winged humans. It’s quite a disturbing image, if I must say. They were sensitive to certain sound wave that could only be produced by the Whip Clan’s whip.
The Fiends were imprisoned under the Golden Gate. Unfortunately, the gate was broken twenty years ago. A brutal fight broke out between the Hunters and the Fiends. At that time, Nie Jiu Luo’s mother was the Mad Blade. She died in that battle.
From that time to the present time, there has been peace. No Fiends appeared during that time. The young Hunters had never seen a living Fiend and only knew what they looked like from the older Hunters’ stories. Some, like Nie Jiu Luo, began to waver. It was understandable. If you trained so hard to face the enemies that didn’t seem to exist, you would question your life choices.
Nobody knew that during those years, the Fiends lived a secret life among the people. They treaded carefully. Only fed on animal meat and humans with special blood. Consuming a random person would expose their natural scent to the Hound clan. If only Gou Ya hadn’t drunk the poor woman’s blood, surely the Fiends could live freely for more years.
The Hunters patrol the South Mountain and the Golden Gate at a specific time. This occurred every four years. I tried to find the answer to why the patrols must be held quadrennially, but I couldn’t find the answer. Maybe my eyes are blurry, or maybe my brain is soggy after watching this drama far too many times. If you find the answer, please tell me so I can sleep in peace.🥺
The Story – When Wounded Souls Find Their Way Home
“Being kept in the dark, makes her carefree. Just like me.” -Yan Tuo-
Yan Tuo is just an ordinary person who wanted to avenge his family. However, he never expected that his parents’ death was closely related to the Fiends and Hunters. Therefore, he got involved with Nie Jiu Luo was only a matter of time.
The romance of Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo did develop pretty fast. The sparks ignited in just seconds. When their eyes locked, you know that something had clicked on them. They both wanted to test each other, but they couldn’t bear to hurt each other. Their fights in Nie Jiu Luo’s studio were more like flirting that went too hard.
Well, I guess no one could escape from Reba or Chen Xing Xu’s charm, not even if they were being chased by monsters.
Both Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo were burdened by their pasts. Their pains was different, but wounded souls could recognize each other. Nie Jiu Luo had a difficult childhood due to the death of her parents. However, she moved forward in life.
At the organization, she was surrounded by those who care for her, especially Jiang Bai Chuan, Xing Shen, and Ling. But then she lost Ling, and her world crumbled once again. The fear of losing another loved one was consuming her and her determination to be a hunter wavered. So Nie Jiu Luo chose to be alone.
Meanwhile, Yan Tuo was used to being surrounded by his parents’ love. His sheltered lifestyle made him oblivious to others’ evil intentions. After his parents died, he continued to live under Lin Xi Rou’s care.
Even though his life was controlled by her, Yan Tuo didn’t experience hardships until he learned about his mother’s death. After that, he lived as if he had a dual personality. At home, he buried his hatred deep down so no one could detect it. He continue to pretend to be a carefree and pampered young master, while secretly investigating the case.
As I said before, wounded souls recognize each other. Through Yan Tuo, Nie Jiu Luo learned to open her heart. With him, she didn’t have to act like a warrior. He accepted her weakness and protected her, even though she was more than capable of protecting them both. Yan Tuo could be himself when he was with Nie Jiu Luo. She didn’t judge him and she also trusted him completely.
The romance between Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo was sweet and heartwarming. My favorite part was the moment Yan Tuo stared at Nie Jiu Luo at the mountain. I immediately felt that this depicted the world stopping when you fall in love. It was as if I were looking at Nie Jiu Luo through Yan Tuo’s eyes. 🥰
The Visuals – Gorgeous Shots and Loud Wardrobes
Although this drama has flaws, it still deserves praises. The directors are Tian Li and He Tan. You could see Tian Li act as Nie Jiu Luo’s agent, Mr Lu, in this drama. Both directors were familiar with mystery dramas, as they both were involved in Tientsin Mystic and Tientsin Mystic 2 drama.
I love to see the camera work and the lighting. The close-up shots of the characters were perfect. You could clearly see their emotions. It wasn’t just about pretty angles. The camera movement made the whole story feel real.
The houses are the highlight of this drama. Lin Xi Ruo’s mansion, with its scary interiors, yellow lights, and dark corners, feels like a vampire den. My favorite is Nie Jiu Luo’s house. It has traditional exterior, but warm, cozy, and modern on the inside.
The costumes reminded me of those in I Am Nobody dramas. Some of the characters dressed theatrically. Especially for the humanoid Earth Fiends. They wanted to imitate humans, right? But judging by their outfit, their fashion sense was clearly inspired by whatever anime the Fiends watched during their training period. 😅
The leader of the Fiends, Lin Xi Rou, dressed like a wealthy villainess. She was always seen in refined silhouettes. She wore tailored cuts with minimal ornaments, and stylish coats with padded shoulders. She often seen wearing red or black.
Sometimes she wore both colors together or added extra colours like white or gold. Everything fit perfectly, and every detail felt deliberate. Her hair was long and sleek. Her lips were always bold red. Everything about her screamed danger.
Meanwhile, her right-hand man looked like he walked straight out of a 1990s Hong Kong triad movie. His slicked-back hair, a chunky chain necklace, open-collar shirts with big, bold pattern, black jackets, and even bleached eyebrows fit the description.
Xiong Hei tried to look dangerous. But for me, he was more like a fashion failure. Lin Xi Ruo’s steward is Si Jie. Her blunt bob with micro bangs was too much for me. And don’t even get me started on the Alpine style uniform of the servants. Just don’t! 🤢
Another subordinate of Lin Xi Ruo, dressed like a cotton candy. Feng Mi wore pastel-coloured clothes from head to toe. Literally from head to toe, because she always wore colourful wigs. Her fashion style consists of crop-top tops and ultra-short shorts.
On the Hunters’ side, everything feels ordinary. There are no bold colors. Mostly black, grey, brown, or other inconspicuous colors. And they all wore casual clothes. Xing Shen, Nie Jiu Luo, and Yu Rong are exceptions.
While Nie Jiu Luo became the symbol of wealthy modern girl, Xing Shen seemed like he was the crazy eccentric step out from a mystery movie. And Yu Rong dressed in street punk aesthetic. Her looks are not meant to please anyone. It’s a fashion style that show zero interest in blending in.
But what bothers me is Dilireba’s overly neat makeup and Chen Xing Xu’s thick complexion. Dilireba always looks perfect with her makeup, no matter what. Whether she just woke up, is sick, or is in the middle of a battle.
She always looks like she just stepped out of a beauty salon. Meanwhile, Chen Xing Xu’s thick complexion and coral lipstick seemed excessive to me. You didn’t need to scrutinize your screen to see it.
Cdramaland loves perfection. Some dramas use extensive editing. Some use thick makeup. Others use heavy filters, and the rest love to play with the lighting. While I just want to see my characters look natural, with wrinkles, lines, pimples, freckles, and so on. At this point, I’m not asking for realism. I just want to see faces that still look human. Let the pores live, they’ve done nothing wrong. 😁
The Characters
Nie Jiu Luo (Played by Dilraba Dilmurat)
Nie Jiu Luo is a talented artist. Her most famous piece is The Hermit Duck. However, she still feels insecure about her skills. Nie Jiu Luo’s mother is a Hunter and a member of the Blade clan.
As one of the Hunters, Nie Jiu Luo has exceptional physique. She is agile and fast. Lv Xian also said that she heals quickly just like Wolverine. Nie Jiu Luo has a strong sense of righteousness and is very protective of her loved ones.
As a person, Nie Jiu Luo is stubborn and determined. She is good at strategizing, observant, and a quick thinker. She is a warrior inside and out. She doesn’t trust anyone easily and carries emotional burdens alone.
The pain from the past has made her fragile inside. She was haunted by nightmares and often couldn’t sleep peacefully. Her hydrophobia also stemmed from the painful childhood experience. Throughout this time, she used her sculpting job as a way to express herself and kept a journal to help her heal.
Yan Tuo (Played by Chen Xing Xu)
Yan Tuo grew up in a loving family until it was destroyed. Then, Lin Xi Ruo raised him and made him her precious son. This upbringing gave him a complicated personality, especially after he learned that Lin Xi Ruo was involved in his mother’s death.
Yan Tuo is a sneaky person who maintains an obedient son façade. He is polite, compliant, and doing all the right things at home. But outside the house, Yan Tuo is observant, cautious, cunning, and calculating. All of those traits come with a layer of naivety that seems impossible to erase.
He can be annoying at times. Despite his growing feeling for Nie Jiu Luo, he kept testing her boundaries again and again. Childish, yet reliable, is probably the most accurate way to describe Yan Tuo’s personality.
Lin Xi Rou / Li Shuang Xiu (Played by Zhang Li)
Lin Xi Ruo is Yan Tuo’s stepmother. She held the most power in the Roadsound Group. She always appeared cold and indifferent, only showing warmth to Yan Tuo.
Although Lin Ling is her adopted daughter, Yan Tuo is her favourite. Lin Xi Rou is meticulous in planning her strategy and her anger is frightening. Her right-hand man is Xiong Hei.
Xing Shen (Played by Dong Chang)
Xing Shen is the Mad Dog of the Hound clan. He has the strongest sense of smell of all. He is an enigmatic person who keeps everything inside. However, Jiang Bai Chuan believed in him and his abilities. So, before sacrificing himself, Jiang Bai Chuan gave Xing Shen all the authority to lead the Hunters. Xing Shen’s loyalty for the Hunters was undeniable. It’s just that his techniques were too extreme.
Xing Shen intentionally sacrificing his eyes so his nose could perform better by swallowing the Huaguang pill. Xing Shen and Nie Jiu Luo used to be very close. But after Ling’s death and Xing Shen lost his sight, Nie Jiu Luo started to waver. Over time, their relationship grew farther apart. However, years of separation didn’t erase his affection for her.
Jiang Bai Chuan (Played by Tian Xiao Jie)
Jiang Bai Chuan is the leader of the South Mountain Hunters. He was the one who took Nie Jiu Luo to the base after she lost both of her parents. Jiang Bia Chuan helped her train and slowly become a parent figure for her.
When she left the Hunters, he was heartbroken. However, he understood and respected her decision. Because of his important position as leader and elder, the Hunters did everything they could to save him from the Fiends’ hand.
Lin Ling (Played by Liang Song Qing)
Lin Ling is Lin Xi Rou’s adopted daughter. She was raised alongside Yan Tuo. While Yan Tuo was pampered by Lin Xi Rou, Lin Ling was treated strictly.
Therefore, Lin Ling gradually become afraid of her adoptive mother. Lin Ling is a timid and cautious girl who relied on Yan Tuo, and they always try to protect each other.
The Conclusion
Love on The Turquoise Land is a very interesting drama with well written story and superb acting. The plot was intense and the visuals are stunning. The explosive chemistry between Dilireba and Chen Xing Xu is another reason why you shouldn’t miss this drama. The story has it flaws but it was very entertaining for me. I just needed more time to finish the drama because of its intensity.
If you like mystery drama that mix legend with modern life, this one is for you. If you prefer a mature romance, this one also is for you. And if you only here to admire beautiful faces on screen, this drama has you covered too. Honestly, I can’t think of a single good reason to skip Love on The Turquoise Land. Just give it a try, dear readers. Worst case scenario, you lose some sleep…😝
Happy watching!
