One of Gu Long's most tragic heroes was Li XunHuan. Gu Long masterfully created this character with the most ironic of names, even though Xun Huan means to indulge in pleasure, Li XunHuan was a person who knew nothing but loneliness. For the greater of ten years he carried with him a wooden figurine but never dared to finish carving its face.
The origins of his story lie ten years ago prior to the start of the novel. Lin ShiYin, his non-blood related cousin, and the love of his life, grew up with him in the same house. They were destined to be together. She was always by his side as they drank together and watched the snow gather on the plum trees in the yard.
As fate would have it, one day Li XunHuan was ambushed by enemies and captured. A man named Long XiaoYun would come to his aid and rescue him. They became sworn brothers and the best of friends. When Li XunHuan finally invited Long XiaoYun to his home, Long would fall deeply in love at first sight with Lin ShiYin. He soon fell deathly ill, no doctors could diagnose the sickness. But he would reveal to Li XunHuan that he was love-sick, since the day they met, he desperately wished to marry Li XunHuan "cousin" Lin ShiYin. But unknown to Long XiaoYun was the fact that Lin ShiYin and Li XunHuan were lovers and she was his bride to be.
Li XunHuan was torn between his closest friend, the friend who saved his life, and his one and only love. He knew for certain that Long XiaoYun would die if he couldn't have Lin ShiYin's heart. But he also knew that Lin ShiYin would be the only girl he would ever love. Li XunHuan finally decided that friendship was what was most important. He tried his best to force Lin ShiYin to hate him. Li XunHuan would constantly berate and ridicule her, even once coming home with two famous prostitutes. After two years, she finally broke and chose the one who was true to her, Long XiaoYun. Li XunHuan then decided to never see the pair again, retreating to the border regions so that they may live in peace. He even gave his entire fortune, manor, and estate to them as a wedding present. He chose to bear the burden of loneliness himself, so that others might be happy.
This decision by Li XunHuan is one that is always questioned by everyone. Was he doing the right thing? Did he even consider how Lin ShiYin felt at all? But we have to remember, Li XunHuan was someone who believed that friendship was more important than life itself. Do you think what he chose was correct? What would you have done were you in his position?