Is There A Romance Subplot In 'True Martial World'?

I read True Martial World in binge fashion last summer. To be honest, the romantic parts are hardly part of the main story. So there are several meaningful female characters around Yi Yun, but none of them gets too much attention, except for Lin Xintong, Yi Yun’s martial sister first and later something more for him. The way they get closer is by fighting together and showing respect for each other. They occasionally exchange looks after a tough battle. Sometimes Yi Yun risks his life for her. It’s sweet in an understated way and is part of their journey, but there are no dramatic declarations of love or harem situations. People who expect a lot of romantic drama might get disappointed, but those who prefer slow-burn relationships based on trust and a shared goal will enjoy True Martial World.

'True Martial World' deals with romance in a very different manner than most other novels. The romance plot line is integral to the main character’s development. His relationship with Lin Xintong (the student of Yi Yun’s old Master) follows his progress in the martial arts, with each breakthrough enabling a greater understanding of the other. The early scenes between them of her teaching him various sword techniques, and him protecting her from the various beast tide episodes is very cute.

Martial World manages to be a great novel with romance in it by making the relationship a catalyst for power-ups for the couple. All of the dual cultivation is relevant to the story and rather than just being fanservice for the readers, it is a way for the couple to merge their energies in order to achieve a breakthrough in their cultivation. There are also a number of side characters that have unrequited love for the main characters. But none of them are used to take over the focus of the story. Instead, the novel explores their unrequited love and how it affects them, especially how it can add to the conflict of other parts of the story. Affection exists in the world of Martial World but the world is a very brutal place and survival is first. This makes their relationship work because it is realistic and able to adapt to the world of the novel.

Rare in any book is real romance. But in the True Martial World, countless headless corpses scatter the streets and Lin Xintong is no ordinary love interest for the male protagonist Yi Yun. In the beginning she’s about as cold as winter in the Northern Territories but Yi Yun eventually warms her up by displaying sufficient courage and tenacity in his long fight to survive in this post-apocalyptic martial arts world. Their romantic moments are mostly spent fighting for survival side by side.

I also appreciate how True Martial World has treated the relationships within the story. When Yi Yun was forced to enter a secret realm for years Lin Xintong did not waste any time waiting for him to return. Instead she created her own legend. Their time apart actually strengthened their bond. Although there are side romances (e.g. The Azure Yang Lord’s tragic love), they add to the rich history of the world instead of detracting from the main plot. It is not a Nicholas Sparks novel with swords instead of words but it does show relationships that are forged in fire (and literally in many of the alchemy scenes as well).