Blurb: In 1898, the year of Wuxu, Emperor Guangxu applied perestroika to update Qing Dynasty. He issued the Imperial Decree of National Policy for reform.
One of the first thing he did was founding Jingshi Academy in July 1898.
He wanted to cross the divide between scholars and ordinary people. Some are crude and insular who see progress as something evil. Some treated technology like the plague and only realised the need for them when it was already too late.
So the Emperor said that to be able to progress their empire in keeping with other countries, they should leave the past behind and acquire a more ‘modern’ approach to life.
Unfortunately, the traditionalist led by the Empress Dowager Cixi staged a coup on 21 September 1898. The Emperor was put under house arrest and his reforms were halted and failed.
That same year, The Emperor died and so did ED Cixi.
Jiang Kai as Zhu Ge Shen Hou
Zhang Gong as Liu An Shi
Hu Chun Yong – [Emperor]
Shi Chen Wei as Lei Tian
Wang Kun as Ya Xiong
Li Yi Ning as Long Xiao Qing
Quick Precis
A young hero came down from the mountain to save the world with friends he met along the way. Ahhh
Episode 1
Wang Xiao Shi was coming down from the mountains when he happened to meet an old man singing while playing an ancient guitar. The old man was singing a ballad of heroic deeds.
Wang Xiao Shi got chatting with the man who asked Wang Xiao Shi where he was going.
Wang Xiao Shi said that he was looking for the most perfect place to lay to rest the most important person in his life. So we have a spoiler. `it looks like Wen Rou had died.
Then it went back to ten years earlier.
The Martial Arts world had two sects that are holding the balance of power. The House of Sunset Drizzle and Six Half Hall.
The House of Sunset Drizzle was going to be in chaos because their leader was old and ailing but despite having a son, Su Meng Zhen, it is not a done deal that he will inherit the leadership of the sect. And if someone from Six Half Hall get the leadership then they could turn into a despositc sect.
Wang Xiao Shi was asked by his shifu to go to Xhili to find Su Meng Zhen and personally hand him the white jade box. Shifu also told him that his great friend would help Wang Xiao Shi to find Su Meng Zhen.
His arrival was already trending in Xhilli before he got there.
Lei Chun of Six Half Hall had already engaged other martial artists to get the white jade box from the man that come from the sea.
When Wang Xiao Shi turned up in the tavern, he told the full tavern that he just came from the sea and he wanted to find someone to give him a gift. The gift was a pot of succulent plant. No one recognised it but when he mentioned Su Meng Zhen, everyone knew that he had the box so a riot started but out of the ceiling a woman’s voice started hollering. She was Wen Rou, who said that she was a disciple fo Su Meng Zhen.
Also in the tavern was a tall guy in white who helped Wang Xiao Shi and Wen Rou.
They got away and met up an old man who was the friend of Wang Xiao Shi’s master. The man said that they could leave the white jade box to him as it would be safer. He will then relay it to Su Meng Zhen.
But the old man went to give the box to Lei Chun as she had already got to him by threatening his family.
But before Lei Chun can actually get the box, Wang Xiao Shi, the tall man in white and Wen Rou had turned up. After some bloody fight Wang Xiao Shi got back the box.
The tall man in white said to give the box to him which Wang Xiao Shi did despite Wen Rou’s complaint.
Both the tall man in white and Wang Xiao Shi knew that the box would be empty because the real message from Shifu was encased inside the pot of the succulent plant
Wang Xiao Shi wanted to know the name of the tall man in white who took Wang Xiao Shi and Wen Rou to a graveyard where he showed them his parents’ memorial with his name also on it. Apparently, he got separated from his parents and his neighbours assumed that he had also perished. Hia name was Bai Choufei
Episode 2
The three youngsters headed for the Capital to find Su Meng Zhen. The nearest route was by water so they waited for a barge.
They did not have to wait long because a huge yacht was passing by with Lei Chun aboard.
Lei Chun very graciously invited them on board and made friends with them immediately.
That night, they had a merry time after imbibing lots of wine. Wen Rou started dancing, while Wang Xiao Shi played the flute, Lei Chun who introduced herself as Tian Chun was plucking the gujin and of course, Choufei provided the vocals.
Wen Rou, Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei ended up fast asleep later on giving Lei Chun’s guard to search for the White Jade box in Wang Xiao Shi’s belongings.
The guard surrendered the box to Lei Chun but then she gave him a neck pinch and threw up in the water.
The next morning, Lei Chun was gone but the white jade box was back safely in Wang Xiao Shi’s backpack.
Choufei was rather upset that Lei Chun had gone because he was crushing on her.
Anyway, Choufei annoyed Wen Rou so much she left on her own accord.
Wang Xiao Shi agreed that it was for the best because they will be going to a very perilous place.
They come across General Yang’s barracks and immediately saw Su Meng Zhen.
Episode 3
Wang Xiao Shi gave the letter to Su Meng Zhen who told Wang Xiao and Choufei that they are his friends.
Their friendship was tested immediately when Su Meng Zhen and Yang Wu Xie were surrounded by enemies who included Go Jung from his own sect.
Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei helped them which made the Six Half Hall retreat.
Choufei said that he and Wang Xiao Shi had chosen a side. They are now members of the House of Drizzle Sunset as they help them fight against Six Half Hall.
Wang Xiao Shi did not have any problem with this.
Su Meng Zhen asked them to go with him to Pobenman where he met up with Di Feijing who was a good martial artist. Su Meng Zhen had a staring contest/fight with Di Feijing, who surrendered because he knew Su Meng Zheng would battle it to the death.
I must say this episode is beautifully executed. The fighting scene is balletic. Loving it.
Episode 4
Hua Wucuo had Su Zhemu, the House of Drizzle Sunset master, under house arrest.
Su Zhemu said that Hua Wucuo could kill him but Su Meng Zhen will kill Hua Wucuo.
Meanwhile, it was agreed that Su Meng Zhen had to get to the Capital in secret to prevent an assassination.
Though Choufei volunteered to pretend as Su Meng Zhen, Wang Xiao Shi begged Choufei to let him be Su Meng Zhen.
Choufei agreed easily. So Choufei became Su Meng Zhen’s temporary bodyguard. Choufei’s heart would have been broken if he knew that he was guarding Su Meng Zhen while he was meeting Lei Chun.
It looks like Lei Chun is in a relationship.
Su Meng Zhen trained Wang Xiao Shi on the Red Sleeve Blade called the Longing technique. He told Wang Xiao Shi that there are four legendary swords in the martial arts world: Hero Fang Geyin’s Blood River Sword, Len Sun’s Silencer, the Red Sleeve Blade, and the Retainment. The most powerful techniques are Longing and Retainment.
Episode 5
Su Meng Zhen finally got to his father aided by Choufei while Wang Xiao Shi with Wen Ran distracted Hua Wucuo who came to see Su Meng Zhen at the inn.
Su Meng Zhen gave the letter from the white jade box to his father. The letter said that Hua Wucuo was from the Six Half Hall.
With the letter, Hua Wucuo’s chance of being the next leader of the House of Sunset Drizzle is non-existent.
House of Sunset Drizzle would cease to exist if someone from Six Half Hall ruled it.
Anyway, Su Zhemu told Su Meng Zhen as he gave him his jade leader ring that Su Meng Zhen was now the leader. He advised his son to be benevolent and yet powerful.
When Hua Wucuo returned to the House of Sunset Drizzle, Su Zhemu was already dead.
He was cast out of the House of Sunset Drizzle for treason. Su Meng Zhen was benevolent by not revealing that he was a spy from Six Half Hall.
Six Half Hall did not want Hua Wucuo because they think he was a traitor so Lei Sun ordered his guard to finish off Hua Wucuo.
Lei Sun was actually upset that Su Zhemu had died. He thinks the martial arts world will never be the same again.
Choufei, Wang Xiao Shi and Wen Rou happily drank wine on the rooftop. They were all full of hopes and dreams.
Choufei said that he wanted to be just like Su Meng Zhen.
Wen Ren said that she was going to liberate herself from just being a woman. She will learn to be a good martial artist.
Wang Xiao Shi said he will be a hero.
Episode 6
Wang Xiao Shi saw the Six Half Hall attacking Hua Wucao who warned him before his death that the Capital is not only a place for heroes. It is a place for life and death.
Because Wen Rou interfered so much in an establishment, she and Wang Xiao Shi were chased all over the town. They saw Choufei who got chased as well. The three decided to run into different direction.
Wang Xiao Shi ended up in a brothel and drank a drugged wine. He was then made to believe by the courtesan that they had an intimate relationship. He was too drunk and too naive to think clearly.
Then later on, Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei was arrested by the Minister of Justice.
Episode 7
The Minister of Justice tortured both Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei for days.
Su Meng Zhen went to see the minister and was told that he had to eliminate a recalcitrant official in return of Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei.
Su Meng Zhen did not much choice.
The Minister released the two with a proviso that cannot enter the House of Sunset Drizzle.
When they left the dungeon they were met by Di Fei Jing who invited them to join Six Half Hall.
They both turned it down.
Episode 8
Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei were finding it hard to find a job and somewhere to stay as the Six Half Hall had warned other small sects and businesses not to deal with the two.
Su Meng Zhen secretly arranged for Master Wo fu zi and his blind wife to give Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei a place to stay and to help them find a job.
Master Wo is a brilliant martial artist who is owed a favour by House of Sunset Drizzle and Six Half Hall. Master Wo called in the favour of Lei Sun and told him not to touch the two boys.
Lei Sun agreed as long as the two do not enter the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Episode 9
Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei good luck did not last long because the apothecary that Wang Xiao Shi was employed in was burnt down and then no one buys the painting of Choufei.
Choufei then learnt that his idol Su Meng Zhen had to kneel down in front of the Minister of Justice to beg for Xiao Shi and Choufei’s then release from prison.
Choufei had decided to leave the Capital as he felt that entering the House of Sunset Drizzle will not likely to happy anymore.
Choufei was surprised to find Wang Xiao Shi waiting for him at the main gate of the Capital.
Wang Xiao Shi said he will go wherever Choufei goes.
They left the Capital and walked into the forest when they found Wen Rou waiting for them.
Wen Rou said that she will take them somewhere.
They indulged her and went with her.
She took them to Su Meng Zhen who had told them that they can’t leave because they were his brothers.
They then have an official ritual of sworn brotherhood and as such both Xiao Shi and Choufei had become official members of the House of the Sunset Drizzle.
Su Meng Zhen was able to accomplish this because he has now something on the Minister of Justice. He found out when he went to the North that the Minister was doing some fraudulent business from under the Emperor.
Episode 10
Wang Xiao Shi and Bai Choufei were elated when they walked into the House of the Sunset Drizzle.
Not everyone was happy especially Long Xiao Qing when he heard that Su Meng Zhen had already decided on Choufei as the Deputy Master of the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Long Xiao Qing was courted by Di Fei Jing to join Six Half Hall. Though, he was gutted for being overlooked, Long Xiao Qing was still loyal to the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Unfortunately, he got caught during the damage limitation control instigated by the Minister of Justice of keeping every quiet by death of all those with connection to the business in the North.
The mass killing got to Su Meng Zhen who ordered Wang Xiao Shi and Choufei to rescue Long Xiao Qing.
Episode 11
The pseudo-romantic issue between Wang Xiao Shi and Zhu Xiao Yao, the courtesan from the House of Shade (?) had been cleared which made Wen Rou so happy but left Wang Xiao Shi confused. Wen Rou had to explain to him that Zhu Xiao Yao explained to her that Wang Xiao Shi just slept in his drugged condition, but nothing happened.
It turned out that Zhu Xiao Yao is part of the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Wang Xiao Shi and Wen Rou were behaving like young lovers but it did not last long.
Episode 12
Wen Rou was accosted by Fang Yinkang, who said that he is her husband. Her father agreed their marriage.
Wen Rou was so annoyed which concerned Wang Xiao Shi who placated her that he will sort it out with Yinkang. He pomised her that he will retrieve her pomander pouch back from Yinkang.
Wang Xiao Shi went to see Yinkang who threw the pouch into a well and challenged Wang Xiao Shi to fetch it.
Wang Xiao Shi dove and recovered the pouch but Yikang closed off the well. Wang Xiao Shi tried to find a way out until he noticed a tiny opening and saw a man who advised him of a hidden knob that would allow him to get to the other room.
Wang Xiao Shi was shocked to see the man tethered in all direction and his back hooked into chains.
The man said that he was from the MItian Sect.
Wang Xiao Shi did not react which alarmed the man, who said that it seemed Mitian Sect in the martial arts world is no more.
He said that he is Guan Qi and every skeleton around him was a member of his family including his young son. He had been trapped in the well for many years.
He asked Wang Xiao Shi to release him. He was so powerful that he undid most of his chain tethers himself and then flew to the top of the well easily toppling the close lid.
Even Master Mo felt that Guan Qi had been released.
Lei Sun knew that it finally happened and castigated his army when they said that they will find Guan Qi and trap him in the well again.
Lei Sun said they can never catch Guan Qi.
Episode 13
Wang Xiao Shi immediately found out that Guan Qi was not a hard done hero.
Guan Qi was brutal. He is so far undefeatable as he has reached the top level of cultivation and martial arts. He was kept alive by Lei Sun because he was the youngest brother of Lei Sun’s wife.
Guan Qi’s only show of being grateful to Wang Xiao Shi was not he had not killed him immediately but he had kept him a prisoner.
Bai Choufei was trying to find Wang Xiao Shi and ended up being arrested by the soldiers of the Minister of Justice, who was the most scared that Guan Qi was still alive. Choufei was then taken to Six Half Hall and came face to face with Lei Sun, who was ready to kill him but he was stopped by Di Feijing who told Lei Sun that if he kills Choufei, then the House of Sunset Drizzle would not work with them to capture Guan Qi.
Also, Lei Chun stood in front of her father to beg him not to kill Choufei because he is her friend.
Later on, Lei Sun told Di Feijing to encourage the friendship between Lei Sun and Choufei because that would hurt Su Meng Zhen.
Wen Rou was with Yingkan and doing everything he told her to because he said that he knew where Wang Xiao Shi was.
Episode 14
Guan Qi is at hair’s breadth away of killing the Minister of Justice when Wang Xiao Shi interfered and said that he was killing the wrong person. The man was not the minister. It was a servant dressed up as the minister.
Wang Xiao Shi then kicked out the minister but Guan Qi heard the commotion outside as the soldiers was asking the minister if he was alright.
Guan Qi was livid that Wang Xiao Shi lied to him.
Wang Xiao Shi told Guan Qi to stop killing innocent people.
I must admit I wanted Guan Qi to kill Wang Xiao Shi.🤣🤣🤣
Wang Xiao Shi was too full of himself. Anyway, he got a right beating from Guan Qi. And would have blown himself to pieces if Di Feijing did not come to extinguish the wick of a bomb that Wang Xiao Shi lit himself before he fainted.
When Wang Xiao Shi woke up, he staggered along the dark street.
Wen Rou found him and took him to the House of Sunset Drizzle.
Su Meng Zhen and Lei Sun are trying to work together to capture Guan Qi and their plan was to use the Minister of Justice as bait. But they can’t convince him.
Meanwhile, Cha Hua told her husband to go after Guan Qi because she knew that retirement for him with still a very worrying situation is like death. So she told him to go get Guan Qi.
Episode 15
Wen Rou and Wang Xiao Shi went to visit the Mos but they only found a very distressed Cha Hua.
She told them that Master Mo went to confront Guan Qi.
Wang Xiao Shi went to look for Master Mo but it was already too late. He found Master Mo speared with his own Blazing River Lance.
But before Master Mo died, he asked Wang Xiao Shi to look after Cha Hua. It is all very sad.
it was Wang Xiao Shi’s fault. His naive symphaty and consideration made him release Guan Qi from his tether.
Episode 16
Zhu Xiao Yao tried to get Guan Qi out of the Capital but they got overtaken by Wang Xiao Shi. Guan Qi at that moment was torturing Zhu Xiao Yao when he learned from her that his son was alive.
His son was Xiao Yao’s assistant Xiao Shuang.
Guan Qi was really pissed that Zhu Xiao Yao took the decision for him to not allow him know that his son did not die of childbirth.
Anyway, Wang Xiao Shi easily defeated Guan Qi this time and maimed him for life. He was about to finish him to avenge Master Xu but Zhu Xiao Yao begged him to spare him.
He did since Guan Qi would be a cripple for life. He asked Guan Xi what is the deal with the Minister of Justice?
Guan Qi said that Sun Lei and the minister had a money-making deal of manufacturing explosives which was killing many people. He then said that hopefully, Wang Xiao Shi would now understand why he was after the minister.
Wang Xiao Shi let them walk away but not for long because Bai Chou Fei turned up and not only stabbed Xiao Yao but also finished off Guan Qi who with his dying breath said that he can see himself in Choufei’s eyes.
Wang Xiao Shi was disappointed with Choufei who said that he was taking revenge for Master Xu.
Wang Xiao Shi said that Choufei had no reason for stabbing Xiao Yao.
Lei Sun found the body of Guan Qi later on and was rather upset. But he went to the minister to advise him that the coast is clean. Guan Qi is dead.
