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When Kindness Meets Darkness: A Demon’s Battle Within
I went back for a second watch—and ended up rewriting my entire review. That alone should tell you something. What begins as a stylish, slightly eerie drama with striking costumes and a mysterious opening quickly unfolds into a layered ride: serial crimes, hidden masterminds, and just enough chaos to keep things lively.
At the centre of it all is Zhu Yan (also known as Zhao Yuan Zhou), a powerful demon cursed by a build-up of malicious energy. Left to himself, he is almost disarmingly gentle and kind. But when that darkness takes over, he becomes something else entirely—a ruthless killing machine. It is that tension, between who he is and what he can become, that gives the story its edge.
He joins an unlikely team led by Demon Hunting Bureau chief Zhuo Yuan Zhou, which includes the seemingly powerless Baize goddess Wen Xiao, sharp-shooting archer Pei Si Jing, and the ever-anxious teenage doctor Bai Jiu. Together, they chase down a string of bizarre cases— the chilling murders of brides, puppet conspiracies, the lost Baize relics, and a plague sweeping through Sinan Town. Each case peels back another layer, revealing villains who are not just evil for the sake of it, but driven by their own warped sense of justice.
Trust does not come easily within the group. Zhu Yan carries the weight of having once killed Zhou’s father and brother while under demonic control. Pei Si Jing has her own complicated past with rival factions. Loyalties are fragile, and as it turns out, betrayal comes not from the shadows—but from the least expected places.
Despite its dark premise, the drama refuses to take itself too seriously. Some of its best moments come from Zhu Yan’s cheeky, flirtatious antics, often at the expense of poor Bai Jiu, whose exaggerated panic reactions are comedy gold.
For most of its run, the pacing is tight and addictive—especially across the first 30 episodes. Then comes the final stretch… and it stumbles. The last four episodes drag noticeably, weighed down by excessive flashbacks, drawn-out emotional pauses, and fights that seem to go on forever. The villain’s refusal to simply stay dead does not help. I found myself reaching for the “skip 10 seconds” button more times than I care to admit.
Still, there is plenty to applaud:
- Lin Ziye is a standout as Bai Jiu, balancing comic relief with a surprisingly convincing darker turn when possessed. At just 14, he shows serious promise.
- The cast pulls double duty impressively—not only acting, but performing their own soundtrack pieces with real competence. - The final ensemble song-and-dance is especially well executed.
- Hou Ming Hao shines as Zhu Yan—charismatic and expressive; on top of that musically talented. After A Girl Like Me, and strong performances in Glory and Love in the Clouds, this role only cements his appeal.
In the end, I would still recommend this drama without hesitation. I have even bumped my rating from 8.5 to a solid 9. It could have reached 9.5 or 10—if only those final episodes had not tested my patience quite so thoroughly.
At the centre of it all is Zhu Yan (also known as Zhao Yuan Zhou), a powerful demon cursed by a build-up of malicious energy. Left to himself, he is almost disarmingly gentle and kind. But when that darkness takes over, he becomes something else entirely—a ruthless killing machine. It is that tension, between who he is and what he can become, that gives the story its edge.
He joins an unlikely team led by Demon Hunting Bureau chief Zhuo Yuan Zhou, which includes the seemingly powerless Baize goddess Wen Xiao, sharp-shooting archer Pei Si Jing, and the ever-anxious teenage doctor Bai Jiu. Together, they chase down a string of bizarre cases— the chilling murders of brides, puppet conspiracies, the lost Baize relics, and a plague sweeping through Sinan Town. Each case peels back another layer, revealing villains who are not just evil for the sake of it, but driven by their own warped sense of justice.
Trust does not come easily within the group. Zhu Yan carries the weight of having once killed Zhou’s father and brother while under demonic control. Pei Si Jing has her own complicated past with rival factions. Loyalties are fragile, and as it turns out, betrayal comes not from the shadows—but from the least expected places.
Despite its dark premise, the drama refuses to take itself too seriously. Some of its best moments come from Zhu Yan’s cheeky, flirtatious antics, often at the expense of poor Bai Jiu, whose exaggerated panic reactions are comedy gold.
For most of its run, the pacing is tight and addictive—especially across the first 30 episodes. Then comes the final stretch… and it stumbles. The last four episodes drag noticeably, weighed down by excessive flashbacks, drawn-out emotional pauses, and fights that seem to go on forever. The villain’s refusal to simply stay dead does not help. I found myself reaching for the “skip 10 seconds” button more times than I care to admit.
Still, there is plenty to applaud:
- Lin Ziye is a standout as Bai Jiu, balancing comic relief with a surprisingly convincing darker turn when possessed. At just 14, he shows serious promise.
- The cast pulls double duty impressively—not only acting, but performing their own soundtrack pieces with real competence. - The final ensemble song-and-dance is especially well executed.
- Hou Ming Hao shines as Zhu Yan—charismatic and expressive; on top of that musically talented. After A Girl Like Me, and strong performances in Glory and Love in the Clouds, this role only cements his appeal.
In the end, I would still recommend this drama without hesitation. I have even bumped my rating from 8.5 to a solid 9. It could have reached 9.5 or 10—if only those final episodes had not tested my patience quite so thoroughly.
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