just started watching renegade immortal and I remember back when this drama was airing some people were saying…
The accounts previously mentioning Renegade Immortal on this page being similar to Whispers of Fate don't know anything about wuxia and clearly never watched the donghua. One of those accounts has made themself look completely stupid about wuxia plus the animation + manhua + movie "Blades of The Guardians" on the "Blades of The Guardians" movie page 😆😆😆😆😆😆
Oh, and those specific accounts back then also first mentioned Tang Lici and A-Shui in "Whispers of Fate" is similar to Wang Lin and Li Muwan. Drama-A-Shui is nothing like Li Muwan but more like Li Qianmei, a damsel-in-distress in Renegade Immortal appearing later in the story and willing to be Wang Lin's second wife, desperately clinging to Wang Lin even after knowing Wang Lin only loves Li Muwan.
If it's any consolation, he broke the cycle of rebirth for himself and was reincarnated as a white fox. And the…
You're welcome! RBF, Azure and myself have read the novel. RBF did a stellar job of translating. Lin Bu's poems are not easy to translate, but RBF managed to commendably do so in one chapter.
'Whispers of Fate' is rich for discussion, depending on what the topic or individual is. Characters in the drama other than Tang Lici are fascinating. Liu Yan is another individual from WoF worth psycho-analysing, especially given contrasts and similarities between novel-Liu Yan versus drama-Liu Yan.
I see you commented on my MDL article for 'Blades Of The Guardians' :D Hope you get your wish!
I don't know what your drama tastes cover. If you have not watched 'Swords Into Plowshares' because you have no idea what it is about, I shared a comment here in reply to an article published by Lily Alice pertaining to an interview with the Director Yang Lei:
This is a great interview to share, giving insight into the mind of a talented Director! Thank you for your hard work, Lily Alice!
Zhao Yifang (Founder and CEO of Huace Group) also shares more about 'Swords Into Plowshares' in an interview (I quote a portion here, and the interview has been translated into English):
[ Question: You’ve described the series as “The Last Kingdom meets The Crown.” What kind of emotional or visual tone can audiences expect from this combination?
Answer: "’Swords into Plowshares’ is closer to a Chinese version of ‘The Last Kingdom’. In character development, both series focus on national heroes emerging from turbulent times, where territorial invasions and identity conflicts fuel the protagonists' awakening consciousness. They tell stories far beyond individual heroism. Instead, through the protagonists' perspectives, they reveal the brutality of war, the rise and fall of kingdoms, and the relentless flow of history. It is carrying grand, epic-scale narratives.
In its portrayal of human nature, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ contains the humanistic struggles faced by monarchs, the same as ‘The Crown’. Queen Elizabeth in ‘The Crown’ often make brutal choices between personal emotions and national duty. Similarly, in ‘Swords into Plowshares’, as three imperial rulers endure the ultimate test of loyalty to family and nation, personal ambition, and the irresistible trend of history. Thus, this is not only an epic of the Song Dynasty, but also a profoundly human story that delves into how three heroes make their difficult choices at a historical crossroads.
During production, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ employed a global audiovisual language for its narrative structure and storytelling approach. Filmed in 8K ultra-high definition, the production featured over 550 sets, more than 8,000 costumes, and achieved aesthetic perfection and masterful craftsmanship in every aspect—lighting, makeup, hair, props—showcasing China's cultural heritage traditions. At the narrative level, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ employs an immersive storytelling approach, departing from traditional didactic narratives. It distills the cultural DNA of the Chinese nation. This allows global audiences back to that turbulent era through audiovisual and emotional immersion, deepening their appreciation for the extraordinary significance of ‘World Peace’ amidst blood and fire.” ] - https://senalnews.com/en/interviews/zhao-yifang-swords-into-plowshares-aims-to-reintroduce-the-world-to-chinese-historical-dramas
Computer engineer and sci-fi writer Liu Cixin is on a roll, given the number of film adaptations for his works (short story and novels) that will be produced and slated to air in 2027 or 2028. Yang Lei sat down to an interview for C-drama 'Three Body Problem' 3 years ago in February 2023, and it was very insightful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9rG2R2fPE
Zhang Yimou is directing the film adaptation of 'Three Body Problem', jointly developed by Enlight Media and Three-Body Universe, which is also expected to air during the Spring Festival of 2027 or 2028 due to needing a few years to complete.
With your article, may 'Swords into Plowshares' see more potential viewers interested in this drama!
Fair question, and you’re right to focus on the timeline because that’s where clarity either exists or doesn’t.…
You don't have to agree with everything I say. I am quite certain many lurkers who don't comment will agree with my points. In fact, I'd also say there are people who wouldn't agree with me because in their minds, KSH now deserves to be punished by NTS because of what has been reported and what has been done. Just because someone doesn't comment here doesn't mean they won't speak freely elsewhere.
I'd say that people who keep jumping the gun on anyone who speculated in a non-positive manner about KSH have likely created the opposite effect on bystanders (some KSH fans are not helping the matter, even if they feel frustrated and angry). Nobody likes to feel that they are being unreasonably policed or being aggressively gang-bullied into silence. People will comment and speculate under articles.
From a Southeast Asian perspective or an East Asian perspective (at least amongst all the people I know in 30s and older whereby we generally don't like people who come across as tax dodgers and want them nailed accordingly), KSH does not look good. Whether he will get into trouble legally with NTS is one matter, but now I cannot agree with any view that claims the journalist was wrongly malicious in reporting about this matter. A journalist can be malicious, but not necessarily wrong.
I don't know why Chosun Daily reports so much about KSH, but this is what they reported yesterday in their article titled "Exclusive: Kim Seon-ho's Preemptive Measures Fail to Clear Suspicions":
[ Despite Kim’s explanations, suspicions about the one-person corporation persist. He returned corporate card records, family salary payments, and a company vehicle, and paid additional personal income tax to address the allegations.
However, has Kim truly distanced himself from the suspicions through these 'preemptive measures'? A legal expert expressed skepticism.
On the 3rd, Attorney Lim Jeong-yeop of Junghyang Law Firm told OSEN, "I question whether these preemptive measures were made in good faith." He emphasized that even voluntary actions do not fully resolve the issue. "For instance, if personal income tax was paid, its appropriateness must still be verified. The National Tax Service may take further action," Lim added.
He continued, "If reports about Kim’s parents using corporate cards for personal and entertainment expenses are true, returning card records later does not erase potential charges. Corporate funds must be used for business purposes; personal use constitutes embezzlement, a criminal matter. Police investigation is likely. Even if records are returned, embezzlement charges can still stand. Such actions might only be considered during sentencing."
Lim concluded, "If tax evasion and embezzlement are proven, preemptive measures would be ineffective. Returning records and paying taxes could even resemble an admission of guilt."
Fantagio apologized, stating, "Kim Seon-ho deeply regrets establishing and maintaining the corporation without full understanding. We apologize for the confusion and will manage our artists’ activities more rigorously."
Whether this controversy stems from intentional tax evasion or mere mismanagement of a one-person corporation remains to be seen through further investigations. ]
KSH has dodged a bullet because he has also managed to limit the damage to his reputation at this point. Beanpole pulled its teaser for 2026 Spring Collection that was supposed to feature him as their new model. Some of the headlines are very misleading, such as claiming "Kim Seon-ho faces advertiser exodus amid tax evasion suspicions" which is absolute rubbish. "Brands Maintain Kim Seon-ho's Endorsements Amidst Tax Evasion Allegations" by Jeong Se-yun of tenasia.com is more apt.
[ According to industry sources on February 4, fashion brand Beanpole has removed a teaser video for its 2026 Spring Collection that had previously been uploaded to its official social media accounts.
The teaser, released last month, announced actor Kim Seon-ho as the brand’s new model. However, the video has since been deleted from all of Beanpole’s official channels, including its social media platforms and YouTube.
At the time of release, the teaser stated that the full advertisement would be unveiled on February 3, but the main campaign video has yet to be published. ]
Not mentioning anything conclusive about airing of his dramas is wrongly misconstrued as issues. If something else happens and it is related to this one-man-corporation fiasco that should have been an easily-handled PR matter but for KSH's decisions, it's not luck he'll need but a law firm.
Fair question, and you’re right to focus on the timeline because that’s where clarity either exists or doesn’t.…
Here are some takeaway facts and preliminary conclusions, given how everything has unfolded:
1) KSH's parents don't look good with these details being public, for exploiting what appear to be loopholes available only because of their son being in showbiz, for their personal benefits. Being paid monthly salaries ranging from several hundred thousand to several million won, and to have used the corporate credit card for personal expenses- What? Who decided what salaries they get each month? How is this decided?
2) KSH is an adult of legal age who was allocated the position of CEO of this one-man corporation, and he is no newbie to showbiz. Whether by him or by his parents, does he have good reason not to know what his parents were doing with this company? Should I presume only his accountants were aware of what was happening? Who did the registration of the family car to the one-man corporation? He's got to have a very good reason or reasons to substantiate, for people who are neither fans nor detractors of KSH, to believe he knew nothing about the workings of this company. But at this point, silence might be best for him after Fantagio's statement.
3) It cannot be entirely on the agency for this matter, because Fantagio cannot be publishing statements about things that have not yet happened or not yet fully verified by them. The vagueness that you've pointed out was also noted in other sources now sharing the official statement of Fantagio.
4) Even if readers are not as eloquent as me, they will also automatically question the timeline of payments and rectifications, and the vagueness in today's statement. From the fall-out of Cha Eun-woo, nobody wants to be next. Fantagio's detailed statement should have been published yesterday, not today. Either Fantagio didn't have these finer details at that point (which could be due to rectifications not finished etc/details of rectifications needed to be verified by Fantagio before putting out such a statement/KSH was in the midst of quickly rectifying everything and then showing the necessary to Fantagio for verification) and were unable to publish today's statement.... Or Fantagio made the wrong decision not to publish the finer details yesterday.
5) This is not completely and solely about criminal guilt or being found guilty by the NTS. It's also insight into the workings of how families can exploit a family member's work in showbiz for their own gain. KSH's parents look horrible to me, KSH's role in this makes my eyebrow twitch because of the vagueness of the statements not clarifying timeline questions, and I would be skeptical if someone tells me KSH knows nothing about the functioning of this one-man corporation.
Overall, KSH has dodged a bullet on this allegation of tax evasion ever since that news article on Feb 1. Hopefully nothing else surfaces. Because if something else does, and if facts check out, then I would say KSH is fortunate not to be in China or he will be totally cancelled.
The reporting is all over the place in the news. Is this the correct timeline?
1 February - Journalist from Sports Kyung Hyang alleges Kim Seon-ho established a 1-person corporation for performance planning in January 2024, registered at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. News outlets pick this up.
[ The company’s business profile included entertainment-related activities as one of its purposes, however, it has failed to register as a public arts and culture planning business. The outlet suggested that the company’s board consisting only of family members without external professionals allowed for flexible fund management within the family, leading to potential tax evasion.
It further reported that the company’s bank accounts were used to pay monthly salaries to Kim’s parents, said to range from several million to tens of millions of won, with the funds allegedly transferred back to Kim every month.
Corporate cards were also reportedly used by Kim’s parents for personal expenses. These included living costs and entertainment, as well as the registration of the family vehicle under the company’s name....
After his transfer to Fantagio about one year ago, all business operations under that company ceased and it “is currently in the process of being officially dissolved in accordance with relevant laws and procedures.” ]
[ On the 3rd, Kim Seon-ho’s current agency Fantagio confirmed to MK Sports that the actor temporarily received settlement payments from his former agency after a corporation was set up in January 2024. This arrangement reportedly took place before his contract with the former agency expired in February 2025. Kim Seon-ho later signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio in March 2025.
A representative of his former agency stated that they had no involvement in how the payments were structured, explaining that they “simply deposited the settlement money to the location requested by the actor.”
The controversy deepened after Sports Kyung Hyang reported that Kim Seon-ho had been receiving settlements through SH2, a one-man corporation established in January 2024. The report claimed that the corporation was not registered as a popular culture and arts planning business, a legal requirement for handling entertainment management activities. Receiving management-related settlements while unregistered may violate the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, which carries a potential penalty of up to two years in prison.
Further questions were raised when it was revealed that Kim Seon-ho had also established a separate performance planning company with family members listed as executives, using his Yongsan-gu, Seoul residence as its registered address. ]
Today, Fantagio issues the longest statement ever, which leads me to two questions:
[ As a proactive measure to rectify the way the corporation was run at the time — something that he lacked understanding of at the time — Kim Seon Ho returned everything, including the corporation's card usage records, family wage payments, and the corporate vehicle.
Concerning the amounts previously settled through the corporation, he has completed the additional payment of personal income tax, in addition to the corporate tax that had already been paid. ] - I don't remember this section of the latest statement from Fantagio being in Fantagio's previous statements but if I missed out, correct me. If this had been in a previous statement, things would have been pretty clear.
1) When did KSH do all these payments such as additional income tax, and additional rectifications? Sometime in 2025? Or was it after 1 February this week, when Sports Kyunghyang published their allegations about him?
2) [ A representative of his former agency stated that they had no involvement in how the payments were structured, explaining that they “simply deposited the settlement money to the location requested by the actor.” ] - According to the latest Fantagio statement today, KSH "established the corporation and maintained it for about a year while lacking sufficient understanding of how corporate operations work."
This settlement money from his former agency was deposited into that one-man corporation at KSH's request, as per his former agency. What was his rationale for requesting it to be deposited into that one-man corporation, at that time?
If he already did all these rectifications and payments before 1 February, I can believe he didn't know what was happening and that journalist is malicious against him. If he rectified all this after 1 February, then I'm sure I'm not the only one to have a very different conclusion about him knowing nothing.
someone really need to have enough patience to finish this,seems like luo yunxi fans will have that patience as…
The account you are replying to has been ignored by all older viewers on this page, because they have been bashing this drama and specific characters in various ways during its airing.
Knows nothing about wuxia, chinese opera which many villainous characters of this drama have roots in for portrayal but only varying in extents of, needs machine translations for mandarin to english, makes all sorts of irrelevant criticisms about Tang Lici despite claiming to be an LYX fan (Tang Lici being their main target)- Their previous comments wouldn't be known to new viewers like you. They wind up sort of talking to themself, so it is nice that you replied them :)
The first time this account surfaced when the drama aired, I engaged them about their comments pertaining to Gui Mudan shortly after episode 14 came out. I'm certain they weren't expecting someone on this drama page able to explain the references plus lines of Gui Mudan interacting with Liu Yan.
Because I understand certain details, I also shared three classical mandarin sources [《诗经》(Book of Odes), Analects of Confucius and《溪山琴况》(Zither Theory of Mountain Streams) ] with explanations of why this drama is grounded solidly in wuxia themes, encompassing Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24569086
There is one viewer account (not the one you're replying to) that is now persona non grata in the Luo Yunxi fandom (internationally and domestically) for trying to bring down this drama, drive viewers away from this drama page, misleading viewers- People have every right to strongly dislike individuals who pretend to be a fan of an artist, only to reveal themselves as trying to parachute another idol to piggyback on the success of an artist like Luo Yunxi.
I'm sure a few specific accounts will never finish this drama given all their previous comments, because watching Tang Lici have chemistry with other female characters other than A-Shui is too painful for them. Episode 23 onwards monumentally increases the pain for CP fans of Lin Yun, so best of luck if someone watches this hoping for Tang Lici having a CP!
If it's any consolation, he broke the cycle of rebirth for himself and was reincarnated as a white fox. And the…
The King of Insects is a character in the novel which possesses the greatest poisons.
Also, here is my explanation utilising certain details of the novel versus the drama, which is crucial if someone really wants to grasp certain differences between novel-Tang Lici and drama-Tang Lici: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-25043194
Xue Xianzi is a Taoist sage knowing martial arts who is at least three-hundred-years-old. He has cultivated and heeded the precepts to surpass mortality, living in the mountains to seek and maintain connection to the Dao via nature,
Sorry pal, I'm in the midst of putting together another article for MDL. If you can't read that, you definitely can't read news articles such as "Cinematic Wuxia Epic 'Blades of the Guardians' premieres on February 17":
Consider prefacing your comments with a sentence along the lines of not reading anything longer than a tweet or however-many-words, and I'm sure people can better decide how to reply to you in future :)
I hope the above explains sufficiently why I find Tang Lici fascinating enough to want to psycho-analyse. In order to fully grasp drama-Tang Lici's actions and decisions from episodes 30 to 40, I have shared certain details and context of the novel that I believe are helpful, especially his greatest obsession that was transformed in this drama. Otherwise you'd need to read at least forty-eight chapters of Teng Ping's "Enduring A Thousand Tribulations" to grasp what I'm referring to.
This drama is a very loose adaptation of the novel, but it is undeniable that the producers did preserve specific traits from the novel for Tang Lici and Wanyu Yuedan, which is why at least one producer claimed 'Whispers of Fate' is heroism-focused and was echoed by at least three other viewers on this page, before this drama aired.
Sorry about my french being almost non-existent, so I can't reply you as I want to.
I once shared three classical mandarin literary texts here that WoF references for the sonic techniques and the themes of Buddhism plus Taoism and especially Confucianism, which will give you a good idea of how strong the wuxia themes are and why there is an emphasis on brotherhood:
Why I say Tang Lici is worth psycho-analysing? I'll explain some distinctions between novel-Tang Lici and drama-Tang Lici. Novel Tang-Lici is more volatile, more emotionally crippled, and has the traits of arrogance mixed with a vulnerability that he allows almost nobody to get close to.
Teng Ping wrote a fascinating, beautiful and bizarre novel with an interesting protagonist that she eventually abandoned and left unfinished for more than 10 years, until it was very loosely adapted to become "Whispers Of Fate". As to why, I'm not speculating but it doesn't help that instead of the Celestial Realm, in the novel Tang Lici and Liu Yan once belonged to a boy band named "Bronze Flute" from the future.
Tang Lici is deeply attached to the friends he knew when he was in the boy band. Fu Zhumei plays a bigger role in the novel than the drama, where drama-Fu Zhumei is more of a cameo.
Across the first twenty-five chapters of the novel. Tang Lici is very much a lone wolf but also a loose cannon of sorts.
In the drama, this is better diluted because of the intelligent storytelling allowing for this dilution to be natural. 'Whispers of Fate' made Tang Lici more emotionally healthy than novel-Tang Lici, which is why Tang Lici's resolute independence of doing things his way in the drama is more convincingly centered in being mostly-emotionally secure in himself rather than seeking a specific person to love and understand him.
The desperation that drove Tang Lici to do things for the pugilistic world in the novel is better-balanced in the drama because not only does he make new friends and the drama shows he is well-supported by new friends, he meets his mother.
In the novel, A-Shui couldn't understand why Tang Lici could be protective of her, but somehow there was something missing. Wanyu Yuedan is a calming influence on Tang Lici, and he fills in the missing pieces of Tang Lici's inspirations and one of Tang Lici's greatest obsessions. It is because Wanyu Yuedan points out the one person Tang Lici desires more than anybody else, hence A-Shui's hopes and assumptions are thoroughly crushed.
Tang Lici wanted to believe what Fang Zhou taught, but coming to terms with certain beliefs was very difficult for him. Not growing up with a reliable mother figure tends to lead to poorer emotional regulation plus trust issues. While I was watching the drama, I picked up on his emotional growth as equivalent to an adolescent when Fang Zhou died, within the first five episodes. By the time of the drama in episode 1, I saw Tang Lici as the equivalent of an emotional teenager even if he is an adult man.
I believe I did not read Tang Lici wrongly because when I was dissecting Tang Lici and Puzhu for episodes 8 to 12, Puzhu's scenes near the end of episode 36 had me amused that my earlier dissections also partially tongue-in-cheek appeared to be on-point.
Wanyu Yuedan is crucial to understanding Tang Lici. From Book 4, Chapter 40 (part 3):
[ “Be at ease. Master Tang has already gone.” Wanyu Yuedan bent low, clasping her hand with a steady, reassuring smile.
Ah Shui froze. At those words, the world seemed to reel around her. “He… he’s already gone?”
Wanyu Yuedan inclined his head. “As soon as he awoke and learned you had led Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, he set out at once. Do not fear. With Master Tang there, none will come to harm.”
She stared at him.
“But… his health…” Her voice trembled.
Wanyu Yuedan raised a finger and traced a small circle beside his temple, still smiling gently. “It was merely agitation. I gave him a calming draught, and he drank the rice soup you made. Already he is better than before. Rest assured, when Master Tang is present, he will never allow anyone to be hurt. He is the kind of man who will stake his very life for others. And with his ability… tell me, what can he not achieve, once he throws his life into it?”
Ah Shui gazed at Wanyu Yuedan in a daze. How could he speak with such certainty—so matter-of-factly—when he said that Tang Lici was the kind of man who will stake his life for others?
“He…”
Wanyu Yuedan drew out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the mud and melted snow from her face. His voice was gentle as he went on,”I once knew another man who would risk his life for those who had nothing to do with him. He did so out of compassion. He was kind to everyone, wished happiness for all, and for that ideal he was willing to stake his life. A man like that is easy to love, easy to praise.
“But Young Master Tang is not like that. He risks his life for others not because of compassion, but because he is fragile.”
Ah Shui blinked slowly. Meltwater pooled at the corners of her eyes, turning everything into a blur. She heard Wanyu Yuedan’s voice, gentle as falling snow:
“He is too lonely, too starved for care. That is why he throws himself into saving others. Through saving them… he gains a sliver of fulfillment, a sense that he matters. He could not let go of Fang Zhou, nor of Liu Yan, and he fought desperately to save Chi Yun—because so few have ever truly cared for him. The ones who do, he engraves upon his heart, and he cannot bear to let them slip away.
“But few truly understand him. His emotions flare too fiercely, and most people are afraid of him. He always seems as though he alone can shoulder the work of dozens, even hundreds. As though if he exists, others need not. Yet the truth is otherwise. He is only too lonely. He needs that lofty posture… because he longs so desperately to be cared for, to be valued. He cannot live as ordinary men do.”
I… I have been so foolish all along. Tears slid down Ah Shui’s cheeks. “Yes…”
Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly. “I will say something I perhaps should not. Miss Ah Shui, you cannot go on without truly understanding Master Tang. I believe the reason he clings to you is not for any other cause, but because you… you carry within you something of a mother’s presence.”
Once again, tears spilled from Ah Shui’s eyes. She could no longer tell whether they were caused by snowmelt or sadness.
“I understand now.”
This gentle young man, seeing her for the first time, seemed able to pierce through every veil of mist. At last she understood what Tang Lici sought from her. At last she understood why he yearned for a love that would “die for him.” At last she understood why, though he treated her so well, she had never felt he loved her—and why did it always left her so disappointed.
So…
So that was it.
Only that, and nothing more.
She broke down and wept, collapsing to the ground in anguish. He had wanted only a mother who would die for him. And she—she had mistaken it all along.
She could never be his mother. And though she had cared for him with all her heart, still… still… what he longed for was only a mother, nothing else, nothing beyond.
If you know all the above, episodes 30 to 40 become a lot clearer, in terms of interpreting drama-Tang Lici's actions and decisions.
Novel-Tang Lici also does things I don't approve of, including choosing to hurl A-Shui into harm's way at one point later in the novel to protect Liu Yan and hence be greatly injured instead of Liu Yan. Anybody who wants to justify drama-Tang Lici or novel-Tang Lici for A-Shui based on the novel has something very wrong with them morally and mentally, if they do so.
Drama-Tang Lici doesn't do any of the above. Luckily 'Whispers of Fate' isn't set in the modern era because if a random woman plants her lips on an unconscious man's mouth without his consent, A-Shui could be viewed as sexually assaulting Tang Lici. Losing her memories is not a justification for doing so.
The only reason why this even happened (where I once pointed out in one of my episode summaries how A-Shui was intelligent in not letting Hong-guniang realise what her blood could do for Tang Lici, hence fed him blood from her lips)... is because A-Shui was unable to prevent herself from being kidnapped and Tang Lici had to go and save her, hence putting himself in danger and further exhausting himself.
He's been in continuous significant pain for four years. Nobody picked up on that, except Wanyu Yuedan.
And if we want to consider any kind of romance between Tang Lici and any female characters, he gave Zhong Chunji a wooden carving very early on. He also gave A-Shui a wooden carving in episode 29, in which he also explained why he can finish wooden carvings to Shui Duopo. For those who don't remember, Chi Yun told Zhong Chunji in Tang Lici's presence during episode 2 or 3 why Tang Lici carves people in wood. Tang Lici didn't say anything while listening, which doesn't mean he agrees with Chi Yun's explanation.
But in episode 29, he made it clear to Shui Duopo that he could finally finish carving Fang Zhou's likeness because he is ready to say goodbye. A wooden carving is Tang Lici's way of not verbalising that he is ready to say goodbye to someone. He chose not to explain this to anyone else (not even Chi Yun) except Shui Duopo.
Tang Lici is definitely hostile to Xifang Tao over what happens with Chi Yun, just like in the novel. We've got no romance possibilities left, since it is too easy to classify drama-Zhong Chunji's feelings and drama-A-Shui's feelings as one-sided for Tang Lici. Tang Lici knelt to Shui Duopo in episode 29, for the sake of Fang Zhou.
In the drama, Shui Duopo is the only female Tang Lici never has to save, help or mentor. Shui Duopo also has no ulterior motives or designs on him. Tang Lici's mother never had any ulterior motives or designs on Tang Lici, but Tang Lici had to save her.
Shui Duopo's 'closeness' to Tang Lici is that of two individuals not truly seeking someone else to understand them. Two stars comfortable in their own orbit, despite their own scars. They each value their own secrets. They can see someone for who they are. Shui Duopo has made it very clear in her silences that she will only share what she wants to. She is also a physician. But he wouldn't have to disclose anything to her just because she is a physician. It is because she has shown she can be reasoned with and can change, she is logically intelligent, and she possesses a childlike frankness balanced with mature diplomatic compassion he feels comfortable with. And that is why Tang Lici can disclose what he did with Shui Duopo about Fang Zhou or himself, which he did not do with any other female characters in the drama. In a way, Shui Duopo is a healthier mirror of him.
Note that in all my evaluations, I do not consider any romantic possibilities between Shui Duopo and Tang Lici but if I ever had to pick one of the female characters for drama-Tang Lici (whom I don't think should ever be paired with anyone romance-wise), Shui Duopo's characterisation is healthiest. Plus I'm more interested in her friendship with Xue Xianzi XD I want Shui Duopo and Xue Xianzi in a short drama xianxia parody. I don't want Shui Duopo in a short drama or any drama with anybody else.
Novel-Tang Lici doesn't want to be psycho-analysed even if he wants someone to talk to that will not judge him in whatever he might disclose, and thus feel understood. Drama-Tang Lici has people willing to talk to him if he wants to, but he eventually sees no need to do so because he knows what decisions to make.
Shui Duopo claimed she wasn't interested in the Celestial Realm in episode 26, and Tang Lici respected her claim. He then tells Zhong Chunji in episode 29 about the Celestial Realm because he wants her to understand he doesn't truly realise what love is, as per the love she seeks in her definition of romantic love.
Drama-Tang Lici is worth psycho-analysing because somewhere in this mix of how he values his relationships with four men for various different reasons, he's also managed to become a teacher to Xiao Shi and understand sacrifice not as the sacrificial womb which his mother once chose to be able to give birth to him, but to sacrifice himself with the noble intentions of a woman choosing to risk giving birth for the sake of everyone else because he had lived a rich life without regrets. And he also recognises the value and wholeness of himself, in doing so. His sacrifice is born of contentment, compassion, completion as an individual, and complete love.
Interesting that he could understand his mother despite only meeting her for such a short time, to then embody compassion and unconditional love completely. Masculine defers and morphs to feminine, to birth a beautiful ending of second chances for everyone else. And he also returns after breaking the cycle of reincarnation for himself in the form of a white fox who cultivates to become a dragon, as per the literary tale in "Taiping Guangji".
It’s been ages since I’ve seen a true Hong Kong–flair Wuxia film, and this one feels like a real deal. The…
You're welcome :D This is the wuxia movie many of us have been eagerly anticipating (especially those who are aware of Shaw Brother movies)! Even though we have lost two Dragons of Chinese Cinema, the future is bright because there are definitely potential dragons in the cast of this movie.
Chen Lijun is a Yue Opera veteran of almost two decades, since she started at the age of 13.
In another comment because someone respectfully praised Chen Lijun, I expanded on Chen Lijun as an actress to watch, and why Yuen Woo-ping would recognise the importance of Chinese opera in the background of an actor or actress (especially for wuxia in a movie), because of his own father Yuen Siu-tien's strong background as a veteran in Peking Opera combined with martial arts before venturing into black-and-white cantonese movies: https://kisskh.at/767811-blades-of-the-guardians#comment-25038804
Chen Lijun had 11 days to learn and shoot the scenes, it happened during the middle of her national tour with…
Chen Lijun is very awesome. She and Li Yunxiao have mesmerising different stage presences due to also continuing an important tradition that Director Yuen Woo-ping understands only too well, because of his father Yuen Siu-tien.
Yuen Siu-tien was mentor and teacher to Jackie Chan. Yuen Siu-tien was also the pioneer of comedic kungfu in HK cinema, which his son Yuen Woo-ping further modernised.
Yuen Siu-tien was already a veteran of Peking opera whereby he grew up mastering its rigorous traditions since the age of six and the role of wusheng, plus honed a strong foundation in martial arts, before starting a film career in early black-and-white Cantonese movies. Yuen Woo-ping learned martial arts from his father, and six of Yuen Siu-tien's children entered the HK film industry in various aspects.
Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao have gained fame and admiration as Yue opera actresses reviving Yue opera amongst younger generations within China, which is another traditional form of Chinese opera. Chinese opera experience enables an individual to master precious skills that will translate well into film, including how to move and conduct yourself on a stage.
Chen Lijun is very humble. She has expressed her views that the quality of performance from an actor or actress on stage has nothing to do with fame. The ability to perform will depend on the extent of respect and awe for the stage, and how one defines your performance. Always revere the stage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKaPy5ERWBE
And here she is, solo in 'Ride The Wind' on MangoTV within less than 2 minutes akin to a captivating stage drama to convey one heck of a performance, as per the official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF8hbIFgmJk
As a veteran of Yue opera which she learned since she was 13 and now has almost two decades of experience, she will be perfect as A Yu Ya in 'Blades of The Guardians' :D
As excitement builds amongst fans of different generations about Jet Li, Wu Jing, Sammo Hung, Kara Wai, Zhang Jin, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Yushi, Ci Sha, Li Yunxiao, Chen Lijun, Jun, Win Win, and other actors and actresses being in this movie- Cinemas and article writers have also been enthusiastic in numerous articles expressing their respect for all the hard work from cast and crew, especially the world’s most-revered martial arts director Yuen Woo-ping who specifically wanted Jet Li to be in “Blades Of The Guardians”.
hk01.com shared in one of their articles titled “李连杰《镖人：风起大漠》甘愿做绿叶完成袁和平80岁梦想“:
As per the article above, Jet Li shared that Yuen Woo-ping was already 80- years-old and had sought out Jet Li, hoping he would take part in one more wuxia movie. Wu Jing also chimed in, so how could Jet Li say no to an elder who is also a world-famous martial arts instructor previously treating him as kindly as his own legendary wushu master Wu Bin? How could Jet Li refuse his fellow martial arts brother who had also trained under Wu Bin? Jet Li was eager to repay 八爷 and work with Wu Jing, hence he happily participated in "Blades of The Guardians”.
GSC Movies is a major film distributor in Malaysia, and their description for ‘Blades of The Guardians’ begins with, “The film brings together four generations of wuxia talent, showcasing intense action sequences—from horseback chases to close-quarters combat—with every punch and kick exuding a sharp, dynamic quality….”- https://www.gscmovies.com.my/blades-of-the-guardians/
Henderson Pictures shared BTS from ‘Blades Of The Guardians’ with a clarion call stating, “江湖相聚，只为武侠梦!!” ie The (pugilistic) world gathers, only for the wuxia dream!! - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1510089280735804
Henderson Pictures describes itself in mandarin as a film production and promotion entity. Focus is on providing information on film and television production, planning, investment, and publicity projects in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan, as well as providing excellent production teams in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, while also providing ground support and other services.
Intercontinental Pictures is a major film distributor in Hong Kong, and their description sharing the official Youtube trailer starts with “四代武俠人齊聚，喚醒三代人的共同記憶!” ie Four Generations of Wuxia Talents have gathered to rouse the collective memories of Three Generations! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGL37amyjKc
The trailer shared by Intercontinental Pictures includes additional details, which the trailer posted by film distributors of other countries do not have.
Anybody who is a wuxia aficionado will automatically recognise Yuen Woo-ping as the oldest and most-respected of wuxia veterans in the entertainment world. Hence the first article I put together for MDL also shares the same sentiments as Wu Jing, beginning with “Four films have been officially announced for the upcoming Lunar New Year period. Blades of the Guardians is one of these films attracting a lot of attention for China’s Spring Festival box office showdown. A trailer and more information have been released, whereby Wu Jing can be seen in several promotional videos emphasising a collaborative martial arts feast created by five generations…”
If you have more clips or details to share about Li Yunxiao and Chen Lijun here for the movie, do so :D
I'd say this movie is going to be a great showcase of how older and younger stars demonstrate their acting chops plus martial arts training across various stages. A lot of stunt training, equestrian training, honing of wire work and other details were insisted upon by Yuen Woo-ping. It was originally supposed to be billed as "the reunion of the three great masters" of Jet Li, Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse.
Our beloved 八爷 is already 80-years-old and he told Jet Li he wanted to make one more movie, plus Wu Jing also told Jet Li he wanted to produce this movie. The rest is history. If someone is so ignorant that they are on this page insulting the choice of casting (Wu Jing would definitely defer to Yuen Woo-ping where applicable, such as with Jet Li), it just goes to show what type of person is behind that account, in talking rubbish.
Over the recent years, MDL has been plagued by multiple troll accounts xenophobic against anything from Korea or China. These accounts try to hide their racist tendencies by insulting any or all of the following: The producer, director, actors, looks of the actresses. They also insult the viewers curious or enthusiastic about a movie or drama, with the intentions of driving people off a page.
They sometimes pretend to understand mandarin or hangeul and post aggressively to try to mislead other viewers into believing they know what they are talking about as they trash a drama or movie and various members of the cast or crew, but give themselves away because it is impossible to use a translating machine for everything. The best hilarity is when they rely on chatGPT or Deepseek or something similar to publicly "educate" others about wuxia or the pugilistic world, hence anyone who understands the literary genre known as "wuxia" nowadays literally 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣at how many things they get wrong.
That is why their comments are usually ignored by other MDL users on a drama page, and these trolls sometimes hide their older comments under spoiler tags.
I’m stopping at ep 5 today… God this is goooodddd!
It's a story that is great if you enjoy seeing the weaving of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, friendships galore, and a strong ML with personal philosophical issues while centered around the pugilistic world and foes he must combat.
Not awesome for CP-worshippers with no CP for Luo Yunxi, and not satisfactory for people seeking:
1) A ML whose development starts out weak and must cultivate to become strong.
2) A ML who needs romance and will lose his character for romance.
3) A ML who can only have special chemistry with one woman. Just like the novel, drama-Tang Lici has chemistry with everyone (males and females), including multiple women and men.
That's why after so many weeks of the drama airing, some viewer accounts are still stuck on episodes 20, 21 or 25 and cannot watch further because of all the reasons above. Others have started watching for the third time, while I've only watched it twice.
This is going to be a lot of fun! Here's the official IQiyi wrapping special for this drama, finally posted on…
Wang Churan and Cheng Lei have amazing chemistry. Cheng Lei has always had a wickedly apt sense of humour and comic timing, which he can finally let loose in this drama. And Wang Churan can also showcase her comic abilities. What a perfect combo!
But before that, here's one awesome BTS FMV short that will simultaneously showcase and melt what I'm referring to, of our two spectacularly enchanting leads: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vxeBkReuj4E
This is going to be a lot of fun! Here's the official IQiyi wrapping special for this drama, finally posted on their Youtube channel less than two hours ago (where they finally included English subs because when it was available much earlier than this on weibo = no subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmFY_lEXc5g
Thank you for the wonderful article, Cryssy and Xiang!
You're welcome :) I've shared a link to the character posters in a reply at the top, and I will also share certain different posters with you plus other details about production: https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32417132
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Oh, and those specific accounts back then also first mentioned Tang Lici and A-Shui in "Whispers of Fate" is similar to Wang Lin and Li Muwan. Drama-A-Shui is nothing like Li Muwan but more like Li Qianmei, a damsel-in-distress in Renegade Immortal appearing later in the story and willing to be Wang Lin's second wife, desperately clinging to Wang Lin even after knowing Wang Lin only loves Li Muwan.
'Whispers of Fate' is rich for discussion, depending on what the topic or individual is. Characters in the drama other than Tang Lici are fascinating. Liu Yan is another individual from WoF worth psycho-analysing, especially given contrasts and similarities between novel-Liu Yan versus drama-Liu Yan.
I see you commented on my MDL article for 'Blades Of The Guardians' :D Hope you get your wish!
I don't know what your drama tastes cover. If you have not watched 'Swords Into Plowshares' because you have no idea what it is about, I shared a comment here in reply to an article published by Lily Alice pertaining to an interview with the Director Yang Lei:
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/peace-isn-t-a-gift-from-history-but-every-generation-s-responsibility-swords-into-plowshares-director#comment-25053832
Zhao Yifang (Founder and CEO of Huace Group) also shares more about 'Swords Into Plowshares' in an interview (I quote a portion here, and the interview has been translated into English):
[ Question: You’ve described the series as “The Last Kingdom meets The Crown.” What kind of emotional or visual tone can audiences expect from this combination?
Answer: "’Swords into Plowshares’ is closer to a Chinese version of ‘The Last Kingdom’. In character development, both series focus on national heroes emerging from turbulent times, where territorial invasions and identity conflicts fuel the protagonists' awakening consciousness. They tell stories far beyond individual heroism. Instead, through the protagonists' perspectives, they reveal the brutality of war, the rise and fall of kingdoms, and the relentless flow of history. It is carrying grand, epic-scale narratives.
In its portrayal of human nature, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ contains the humanistic struggles faced by monarchs, the same as ‘The Crown’. Queen Elizabeth in ‘The Crown’ often make brutal choices between personal emotions and national duty. Similarly, in ‘Swords into Plowshares’, as three imperial rulers endure the ultimate test of loyalty to family and nation, personal ambition, and the irresistible trend of history. Thus, this is not only an epic of the Song Dynasty, but also a profoundly human story that delves into how three heroes make their difficult choices at a historical crossroads.
During production, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ employed a global audiovisual language for its narrative structure and storytelling approach. Filmed in 8K ultra-high definition, the production featured over 550 sets, more than 8,000 costumes, and achieved aesthetic perfection and masterful craftsmanship in every aspect—lighting, makeup, hair, props—showcasing China's cultural heritage traditions. At the narrative level, ‘Swords into Plowshares’ employs an immersive storytelling approach, departing from traditional didactic narratives. It distills the cultural DNA of the Chinese nation. This allows global audiences back to that turbulent era through audiovisual and emotional immersion, deepening their appreciation for the extraordinary significance of ‘World Peace’ amidst blood and fire.” ] - https://senalnews.com/en/interviews/zhao-yifang-swords-into-plowshares-aims-to-reintroduce-the-world-to-chinese-historical-dramas
Computer engineer and sci-fi writer Liu Cixin is on a roll, given the number of film adaptations for his works (short story and novels) that will be produced and slated to air in 2027 or 2028. Yang Lei sat down to an interview for C-drama 'Three Body Problem' 3 years ago in February 2023, and it was very insightful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9rG2R2fPE
Zhang Yimou is directing the film adaptation of 'Three Body Problem', jointly developed by Enlight Media and Three-Body Universe, which is also expected to air during the Spring Festival of 2027 or 2028 due to needing a few years to complete.
With your article, may 'Swords into Plowshares' see more potential viewers interested in this drama!
I'd say that people who keep jumping the gun on anyone who speculated in a non-positive manner about KSH have likely created the opposite effect on bystanders (some KSH fans are not helping the matter, even if they feel frustrated and angry). Nobody likes to feel that they are being unreasonably policed or being aggressively gang-bullied into silence. People will comment and speculate under articles.
From a Southeast Asian perspective or an East Asian perspective (at least amongst all the people I know in 30s and older whereby we generally don't like people who come across as tax dodgers and want them nailed accordingly), KSH does not look good. Whether he will get into trouble legally with NTS is one matter, but now I cannot agree with any view that claims the journalist was wrongly malicious in reporting about this matter. A journalist can be malicious, but not necessarily wrong.
I don't know why Chosun Daily reports so much about KSH, but this is what they reported yesterday in their article titled "Exclusive: Kim Seon-ho's Preemptive Measures Fail to Clear Suspicions":
[ Despite Kim’s explanations, suspicions about the one-person corporation persist. He returned corporate card records, family salary payments, and a company vehicle, and paid additional personal income tax to address the allegations.
However, has Kim truly distanced himself from the suspicions through these 'preemptive measures'? A legal expert expressed skepticism.
On the 3rd, Attorney Lim Jeong-yeop of Junghyang Law Firm told OSEN, "I question whether these preemptive measures were made in good faith." He emphasized that even voluntary actions do not fully resolve the issue. "For instance, if personal income tax was paid, its appropriateness must still be verified. The National Tax Service may take further action," Lim added.
He continued, "If reports about Kim’s parents using corporate cards for personal and entertainment expenses are true, returning card records later does not erase potential charges. Corporate funds must be used for business purposes; personal use constitutes embezzlement, a criminal matter. Police investigation is likely. Even if records are returned, embezzlement charges can still stand. Such actions might only be considered during sentencing."
Lim concluded, "If tax evasion and embezzlement are proven, preemptive measures would be ineffective. Returning records and paying taxes could even resemble an admission of guilt."
Fantagio apologized, stating, "Kim Seon-ho deeply regrets establishing and maintaining the corporation without full understanding. We apologize for the confusion and will manage our artists’ activities more rigorously."
Whether this controversy stems from intentional tax evasion or mere mismanagement of a one-person corporation remains to be seen through further investigations. ]
https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2026/02/04/LSSLGV2GJ5EXFJUD6CHFKXWYPQ/
KSH has dodged a bullet because he has also managed to limit the damage to his reputation at this point. Beanpole pulled its teaser for 2026 Spring Collection that was supposed to feature him as their new model. Some of the headlines are very misleading, such as claiming "Kim Seon-ho faces advertiser exodus amid tax evasion suspicions" which is absolute rubbish. "Brands Maintain Kim Seon-ho's Endorsements Amidst Tax Evasion Allegations" by Jeong Se-yun of tenasia.com is more apt.
https://www.tenasia.com/amp/2026020436824
That said, Beanpole worked closely with KSH months ago, so for them to do so is noticeable.
https://m.alphabiz.co.kr/news/amp.html?ncode=1065560290140844
[ According to industry sources on February 4, fashion brand Beanpole has removed a teaser video for its 2026 Spring Collection that had previously been uploaded to its official social media accounts.
The teaser, released last month, announced actor Kim Seon-ho as the brand’s new model. However, the video has since been deleted from all of Beanpole’s official channels, including its social media platforms and YouTube.
At the time of release, the teaser stated that the full advertisement would be unveiled on February 3, but the main campaign video has yet to be published. ]
Not mentioning anything conclusive about airing of his dramas is wrongly misconstrued as issues. If something else happens and it is related to this one-man-corporation fiasco that should have been an easily-handled PR matter but for KSH's decisions, it's not luck he'll need but a law firm.
1) KSH's parents don't look good with these details being public, for exploiting what appear to be loopholes available only because of their son being in showbiz, for their personal benefits. Being paid monthly salaries ranging from several hundred thousand to several million won, and to have used the corporate credit card for personal expenses- What? Who decided what salaries they get each month? How is this decided?
2) KSH is an adult of legal age who was allocated the position of CEO of this one-man corporation, and he is no newbie to showbiz. Whether by him or by his parents, does he have good reason not to know what his parents were doing with this company? Should I presume only his accountants were aware of what was happening? Who did the registration of the family car to the one-man corporation? He's got to have a very good reason or reasons to substantiate, for people who are neither fans nor detractors of KSH, to believe he knew nothing about the workings of this company. But at this point, silence might be best for him after Fantagio's statement.
3) It cannot be entirely on the agency for this matter, because Fantagio cannot be publishing statements about things that have not yet happened or not yet fully verified by them. The vagueness that you've pointed out was also noted in other sources now sharing the official statement of Fantagio.
4) Even if readers are not as eloquent as me, they will also automatically question the timeline of payments and rectifications, and the vagueness in today's statement. From the fall-out of Cha Eun-woo, nobody wants to be next. Fantagio's detailed statement should have been published yesterday, not today. Either Fantagio didn't have these finer details at that point (which could be due to rectifications not finished etc/details of rectifications needed to be verified by Fantagio before putting out such a statement/KSH was in the midst of quickly rectifying everything and then showing the necessary to Fantagio for verification) and were unable to publish today's statement.... Or Fantagio made the wrong decision not to publish the finer details yesterday.
5) This is not completely and solely about criminal guilt or being found guilty by the NTS. It's also insight into the workings of how families can exploit a family member's work in showbiz for their own gain. KSH's parents look horrible to me, KSH's role in this makes my eyebrow twitch because of the vagueness of the statements not clarifying timeline questions, and I would be skeptical if someone tells me KSH knows nothing about the functioning of this one-man corporation.
Overall, KSH has dodged a bullet on this allegation of tax evasion ever since that news article on Feb 1. Hopefully nothing else surfaces. Because if something else does, and if facts check out, then I would say KSH is fortunate not to be in China or he will be totally cancelled.
You can help clear up the final bit of confusion here, since I believe most of the details have been addressed: https://news.mydramalist.com/article/kim-seon-ho-s-agency-issues-new-statement-regarding-one-man-corporation#comment-25044432
1 February - Journalist from Sports Kyung Hyang alleges Kim Seon-ho established a 1-person corporation for performance planning in January 2024, registered at his residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. News outlets pick this up.
2 February - Amongst all the overseas media sources, CNA posts an article covering what was reported by said outlet and also covers Fantagio's statement: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/kim-seon-ho-tax-evasion-577941
[ The company’s business profile included entertainment-related activities as one of its purposes, however, it has failed to register as a public arts and culture planning business. The outlet suggested that the company’s board consisting only of family members without external professionals allowed for flexible fund management within the family, leading to potential tax evasion.
It further reported that the company’s bank accounts were used to pay monthly salaries to Kim’s parents, said to range from several million to tens of millions of won, with the funds allegedly transferred back to Kim every month.
Corporate cards were also reportedly used by Kim’s parents for personal expenses. These included living costs and entertainment, as well as the registration of the family vehicle under the company’s name....
After his transfer to Fantagio about one year ago, all business operations under that company ceased and it “is currently in the process of being officially dissolved in accordance with relevant laws and procedures.” ]
Yesterday (3 Feb) - hallyuforums on x.com summarises as (https://x.com/hallyuforums/status/2018589970404200855):
[ On the 3rd, Kim Seon-ho’s current agency Fantagio confirmed to MK Sports that the actor temporarily received settlement payments from his former agency after a corporation was set up in January 2024. This arrangement reportedly took place before his contract with the former agency expired in February 2025. Kim Seon-ho later signed an exclusive contract with Fantagio in March 2025.
A representative of his former agency stated that they had no involvement in how the payments were structured, explaining that they “simply deposited the settlement money to the location requested by the actor.”
The controversy deepened after Sports Kyung Hyang reported that Kim Seon-ho had been receiving settlements through SH2, a one-man corporation established in January 2024. The report claimed that the corporation was not registered as a popular culture and arts planning business, a legal requirement for handling entertainment management activities. Receiving management-related settlements while unregistered may violate the Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act, which carries a potential penalty of up to two years in prison.
Further questions were raised when it was revealed that Kim Seon-ho had also established a separate performance planning company with family members listed as executives, using his Yongsan-gu, Seoul residence as its registered address. ]
Today, Fantagio issues the longest statement ever, which leads me to two questions:
[ As a proactive measure to rectify the way the corporation was run at the time — something that he lacked understanding of at the time — Kim Seon Ho returned everything, including the corporation's card usage records, family wage payments, and the corporate vehicle.
Concerning the amounts previously settled through the corporation, he has completed the additional payment of personal income tax, in addition to the corporate tax that had already been paid. ] - I don't remember this section of the latest statement from Fantagio being in Fantagio's previous statements but if I missed out, correct me. If this had been in a previous statement, things would have been pretty clear.
1) When did KSH do all these payments such as additional income tax, and additional rectifications? Sometime in 2025? Or was it after 1 February this week, when Sports Kyunghyang published their allegations about him?
2) [ A representative of his former agency stated that they had no involvement in how the payments were structured, explaining that they “simply deposited the settlement money to the location requested by the actor.” ] - According to the latest Fantagio statement today, KSH "established the corporation and maintained it for about a year while lacking sufficient understanding of how corporate operations work."
This settlement money from his former agency was deposited into that one-man corporation at KSH's request, as per his former agency. What was his rationale for requesting it to be deposited into that one-man corporation, at that time?
If he already did all these rectifications and payments before 1 February, I can believe he didn't know what was happening and that journalist is malicious against him. If he rectified all this after 1 February, then I'm sure I'm not the only one to have a very different conclusion about him knowing nothing.
Which one is it?
Knows nothing about wuxia, chinese opera which many villainous characters of this drama have roots in for portrayal but only varying in extents of, needs machine translations for mandarin to english, makes all sorts of irrelevant criticisms about Tang Lici despite claiming to be an LYX fan (Tang Lici being their main target)- Their previous comments wouldn't be known to new viewers like you. They wind up sort of talking to themself, so it is nice that you replied them :)
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24438394
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24432270
The first time this account surfaced when the drama aired, I engaged them about their comments pertaining to Gui Mudan shortly after episode 14 came out. I'm certain they weren't expecting someone on this drama page able to explain the references plus lines of Gui Mudan interacting with Liu Yan.
Because I understand certain details, I also shared three classical mandarin sources [《诗经》(Book of Odes), Analects of Confucius and《溪山琴况》(Zither Theory of Mountain Streams) ] with explanations of why this drama is grounded solidly in wuxia themes, encompassing Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24569086
There is one viewer account (not the one you're replying to) that is now persona non grata in the Luo Yunxi fandom (internationally and domestically) for trying to bring down this drama, drive viewers away from this drama page, misleading viewers- People have every right to strongly dislike individuals who pretend to be a fan of an artist, only to reveal themselves as trying to parachute another idol to piggyback on the success of an artist like Luo Yunxi.
I'm sure a few specific accounts will never finish this drama given all their previous comments, because watching Tang Lici have chemistry with other female characters other than A-Shui is too painful for them. Episode 23 onwards monumentally increases the pain for CP fans of Lin Yun, so best of luck if someone watches this hoping for Tang Lici having a CP!
Also, here is my explanation utilising certain details of the novel versus the drama, which is crucial if someone really wants to grasp certain differences between novel-Tang Lici and drama-Tang Lici: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-25043194
Xue Xianzi is a Taoist sage knowing martial arts who is at least three-hundred-years-old. He has cultivated and heeded the precepts to surpass mortality, living in the mountains to seek and maintain connection to the Dao via nature,
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/cinematic-wuxia-epic-blades-of-the-guardians-premieres-on-february-17
Consider prefacing your comments with a sentence along the lines of not reading anything longer than a tweet or however-many-words, and I'm sure people can better decide how to reply to you in future :)
This drama is a very loose adaptation of the novel, but it is undeniable that the producers did preserve specific traits from the novel for Tang Lici and Wanyu Yuedan, which is why at least one producer claimed 'Whispers of Fate' is heroism-focused and was echoed by at least three other viewers on this page, before this drama aired.
I once shared three classical mandarin literary texts here that WoF references for the sonic techniques and the themes of Buddhism plus Taoism and especially Confucianism, which will give you a good idea of how strong the wuxia themes are and why there is an emphasis on brotherhood:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24569086
Why I say Tang Lici is worth psycho-analysing? I'll explain some distinctions between novel-Tang Lici and drama-Tang Lici. Novel Tang-Lici is more volatile, more emotionally crippled, and has the traits of arrogance mixed with a vulnerability that he allows almost nobody to get close to.
Teng Ping wrote a fascinating, beautiful and bizarre novel with an interesting protagonist that she eventually abandoned and left unfinished for more than 10 years, until it was very loosely adapted to become "Whispers Of Fate". As to why, I'm not speculating but it doesn't help that instead of the Celestial Realm, in the novel Tang Lici and Liu Yan once belonged to a boy band named "Bronze Flute" from the future.
Tang Lici is deeply attached to the friends he knew when he was in the boy band. Fu Zhumei plays a bigger role in the novel than the drama, where drama-Fu Zhumei is more of a cameo.
Across the first twenty-five chapters of the novel. Tang Lici is very much a lone wolf but also a loose cannon of sorts.
In the drama, this is better diluted because of the intelligent storytelling allowing for this dilution to be natural. 'Whispers of Fate' made Tang Lici more emotionally healthy than novel-Tang Lici, which is why Tang Lici's resolute independence of doing things his way in the drama is more convincingly centered in being mostly-emotionally secure in himself rather than seeking a specific person to love and understand him.
The desperation that drove Tang Lici to do things for the pugilistic world in the novel is better-balanced in the drama because not only does he make new friends and the drama shows he is well-supported by new friends, he meets his mother.
In the novel, A-Shui couldn't understand why Tang Lici could be protective of her, but somehow there was something missing. Wanyu Yuedan is a calming influence on Tang Lici, and he fills in the missing pieces of Tang Lici's inspirations and one of Tang Lici's greatest obsessions. It is because Wanyu Yuedan points out the one person Tang Lici desires more than anybody else, hence A-Shui's hopes and assumptions are thoroughly crushed.
Tang Lici wanted to believe what Fang Zhou taught, but coming to terms with certain beliefs was very difficult for him. Not growing up with a reliable mother figure tends to lead to poorer emotional regulation plus trust issues. While I was watching the drama, I picked up on his emotional growth as equivalent to an adolescent when Fang Zhou died, within the first five episodes. By the time of the drama in episode 1, I saw Tang Lici as the equivalent of an emotional teenager even if he is an adult man.
I believe I did not read Tang Lici wrongly because when I was dissecting Tang Lici and Puzhu for episodes 8 to 12, Puzhu's scenes near the end of episode 36 had me amused that my earlier dissections also partially tongue-in-cheek appeared to be on-point.
Wanyu Yuedan is crucial to understanding Tang Lici. From Book 4, Chapter 40 (part 3):
[ “Be at ease. Master Tang has already gone.” Wanyu Yuedan bent low, clasping her hand with a steady, reassuring smile.
Ah Shui froze. At those words, the world seemed to reel around her. “He… he’s already gone?”
Wanyu Yuedan inclined his head. “As soon as he awoke and learned you had led Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, he set out at once. Do not fear. With Master Tang there, none will come to harm.”
She stared at him.
“But… his health…” Her voice trembled.
Wanyu Yuedan raised a finger and traced a small circle beside his temple, still smiling gently. “It was merely agitation. I gave him a calming draught, and he drank the rice soup you made. Already he is better than before. Rest assured, when Master Tang is present, he will never allow anyone to be hurt. He is the kind of man who will stake his very life for others. And with his ability… tell me, what can he not achieve, once he throws his life into it?”
Ah Shui gazed at Wanyu Yuedan in a daze. How could he speak with such certainty—so matter-of-factly—when he said that Tang Lici was the kind of man who will stake his life for others?
“He…”
Wanyu Yuedan drew out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the mud and melted snow from her face. His voice was gentle as he went on,”I once knew another man who would risk his life for those who had nothing to do with him. He did so out of compassion. He was kind to everyone, wished happiness for all, and for that ideal he was willing to stake his life. A man like that is easy to love, easy to praise.
“But Young Master Tang is not like that. He risks his life for others not because of compassion, but because he is fragile.”
Ah Shui blinked slowly. Meltwater pooled at the corners of her eyes, turning everything into a blur. She heard Wanyu Yuedan’s voice, gentle as falling snow:
“He is too lonely, too starved for care. That is why he throws himself into saving others. Through saving them… he gains a sliver of fulfillment, a sense that he matters. He could not let go of Fang Zhou, nor of Liu Yan, and he fought desperately to save Chi Yun—because so few have ever truly cared for him. The ones who do, he engraves upon his heart, and he cannot bear to let them slip away.
“But few truly understand him. His emotions flare too fiercely, and most people are afraid of him. He always seems as though he alone can shoulder the work of dozens, even hundreds. As though if he exists, others need not. Yet the truth is otherwise. He is only too lonely. He needs that lofty posture… because he longs so desperately to be cared for, to be valued. He cannot live as ordinary men do.”
I… I have been so foolish all along. Tears slid down Ah Shui’s cheeks. “Yes…”
Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly. “I will say something I perhaps should not. Miss Ah Shui, you cannot go on without truly understanding Master Tang. I believe the reason he clings to you is not for any other cause, but because you… you carry within you something of a mother’s presence.”
Once again, tears spilled from Ah Shui’s eyes. She could no longer tell whether they were caused by snowmelt or sadness.
“I understand now.”
This gentle young man, seeing her for the first time, seemed able to pierce through every veil of mist. At last she understood what Tang Lici sought from her. At last she understood why he yearned for a love that would “die for him.” At last she understood why, though he treated her so well, she had never felt he loved her—and why did it always left her so disappointed.
So…
So that was it.
Only that, and nothing more.
She broke down and wept, collapsing to the ground in anguish. He had wanted only a mother who would die for him. And she—she had mistaken it all along.
She could never be his mother. And though she had cared for him with all her heart, still… still… what he longed for was only a mother, nothing else, nothing beyond.
And she… she could never be his mother. ]
Here are two sites with translations (frankly, I recommend RBF's translations): https://qianjiemei.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/chapter-40-brokenhearted-unto-despair-part-3/
https://mydramanovel.com/shui-long-yin/chapter-40-heartbroken-to-the-point-of-death-03/
I also share the mandarin link: https://www.kanunu8.com/book5/1000jiemei/17467.html
~*~*~*~*~
If you know all the above, episodes 30 to 40 become a lot clearer, in terms of interpreting drama-Tang Lici's actions and decisions.
Novel-Tang Lici also does things I don't approve of, including choosing to hurl A-Shui into harm's way at one point later in the novel to protect Liu Yan and hence be greatly injured instead of Liu Yan. Anybody who wants to justify drama-Tang Lici or novel-Tang Lici for A-Shui based on the novel has something very wrong with them morally and mentally, if they do so.
Drama-Tang Lici doesn't do any of the above. Luckily 'Whispers of Fate' isn't set in the modern era because if a random woman plants her lips on an unconscious man's mouth without his consent, A-Shui could be viewed as sexually assaulting Tang Lici. Losing her memories is not a justification for doing so.
The only reason why this even happened (where I once pointed out in one of my episode summaries how A-Shui was intelligent in not letting Hong-guniang realise what her blood could do for Tang Lici, hence fed him blood from her lips)... is because A-Shui was unable to prevent herself from being kidnapped and Tang Lici had to go and save her, hence putting himself in danger and further exhausting himself.
He's been in continuous significant pain for four years. Nobody picked up on that, except Wanyu Yuedan.
And if we want to consider any kind of romance between Tang Lici and any female characters, he gave Zhong Chunji a wooden carving very early on. He also gave A-Shui a wooden carving in episode 29, in which he also explained why he can finish wooden carvings to Shui Duopo. For those who don't remember, Chi Yun told Zhong Chunji in Tang Lici's presence during episode 2 or 3 why Tang Lici carves people in wood. Tang Lici didn't say anything while listening, which doesn't mean he agrees with Chi Yun's explanation.
But in episode 29, he made it clear to Shui Duopo that he could finally finish carving Fang Zhou's likeness because he is ready to say goodbye. A wooden carving is Tang Lici's way of not verbalising that he is ready to say goodbye to someone. He chose not to explain this to anyone else (not even Chi Yun) except Shui Duopo.
Tang Lici is definitely hostile to Xifang Tao over what happens with Chi Yun, just like in the novel. We've got no romance possibilities left, since it is too easy to classify drama-Zhong Chunji's feelings and drama-A-Shui's feelings as one-sided for Tang Lici. Tang Lici knelt to Shui Duopo in episode 29, for the sake of Fang Zhou.
In the drama, Shui Duopo is the only female Tang Lici never has to save, help or mentor. Shui Duopo also has no ulterior motives or designs on him. Tang Lici's mother never had any ulterior motives or designs on Tang Lici, but Tang Lici had to save her.
Shui Duopo's 'closeness' to Tang Lici is that of two individuals not truly seeking someone else to understand them. Two stars comfortable in their own orbit, despite their own scars. They each value their own secrets. They can see someone for who they are. Shui Duopo has made it very clear in her silences that she will only share what she wants to. She is also a physician. But he wouldn't have to disclose anything to her just because she is a physician. It is because she has shown she can be reasoned with and can change, she is logically intelligent, and she possesses a childlike frankness balanced with mature diplomatic compassion he feels comfortable with. And that is why Tang Lici can disclose what he did with Shui Duopo about Fang Zhou or himself, which he did not do with any other female characters in the drama. In a way, Shui Duopo is a healthier mirror of him.
Note that in all my evaluations, I do not consider any romantic possibilities between Shui Duopo and Tang Lici but if I ever had to pick one of the female characters for drama-Tang Lici (whom I don't think should ever be paired with anyone romance-wise), Shui Duopo's characterisation is healthiest. Plus I'm more interested in her friendship with Xue Xianzi XD I want Shui Duopo and Xue Xianzi in a short drama xianxia parody. I don't want Shui Duopo in a short drama or any drama with anybody else.
Novel-Tang Lici doesn't want to be psycho-analysed even if he wants someone to talk to that will not judge him in whatever he might disclose, and thus feel understood. Drama-Tang Lici has people willing to talk to him if he wants to, but he eventually sees no need to do so because he knows what decisions to make.
Shui Duopo claimed she wasn't interested in the Celestial Realm in episode 26, and Tang Lici respected her claim. He then tells Zhong Chunji in episode 29 about the Celestial Realm because he wants her to understand he doesn't truly realise what love is, as per the love she seeks in her definition of romantic love.
Drama-Tang Lici is worth psycho-analysing because somewhere in this mix of how he values his relationships with four men for various different reasons, he's also managed to become a teacher to Xiao Shi and understand sacrifice not as the sacrificial womb which his mother once chose to be able to give birth to him, but to sacrifice himself with the noble intentions of a woman choosing to risk giving birth for the sake of everyone else because he had lived a rich life without regrets. And he also recognises the value and wholeness of himself, in doing so. His sacrifice is born of contentment, compassion, completion as an individual, and complete love.
Interesting that he could understand his mother despite only meeting her for such a short time, to then embody compassion and unconditional love completely. Masculine defers and morphs to feminine, to birth a beautiful ending of second chances for everyone else. And he also returns after breaking the cycle of reincarnation for himself in the form of a white fox who cultivates to become a dragon, as per the literary tale in "Taiping Guangji".
For the tale of Taiping Guangji, RBF's poster explanation is best: https://kisskh.at/discussions/shui-long-yin/121095-sly-art-poster-analysis-slight-spoilers
Chen Lijun is a Yue Opera veteran of almost two decades, since she started at the age of 13.
In another comment because someone respectfully praised Chen Lijun, I expanded on Chen Lijun as an actress to watch, and why Yuen Woo-ping would recognise the importance of Chinese opera in the background of an actor or actress (especially for wuxia in a movie), because of his own father Yuen Siu-tien's strong background as a veteran in Peking Opera combined with martial arts before venturing into black-and-white cantonese movies: https://kisskh.at/767811-blades-of-the-guardians#comment-25038804
Yuen Siu-tien was mentor and teacher to Jackie Chan. Yuen Siu-tien was also the pioneer of comedic kungfu in HK cinema, which his son Yuen Woo-ping further modernised.
Yuen Siu-tien was already a veteran of Peking opera whereby he grew up mastering its rigorous traditions since the age of six and the role of wusheng, plus honed a strong foundation in martial arts, before starting a film career in early black-and-white Cantonese movies. Yuen Woo-ping learned martial arts from his father, and six of Yuen Siu-tien's children entered the HK film industry in various aspects.
Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao have gained fame and admiration as Yue opera actresses reviving Yue opera amongst younger generations within China, which is another traditional form of Chinese opera. Chinese opera experience enables an individual to master precious skills that will translate well into film, including how to move and conduct yourself on a stage.
Chen Lijun is very humble. She has expressed her views that the quality of performance from an actor or actress on stage has nothing to do with fame. The ability to perform will depend on the extent of respect and awe for the stage, and how one defines your performance. Always revere the stage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKaPy5ERWBE
And here she is, solo in 'Ride The Wind' on MangoTV within less than 2 minutes akin to a captivating stage drama to convey one heck of a performance, as per the official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF8hbIFgmJk
'Ride The Wind' is also known as 'Sisters Who Make Waves Season 5'. What is 'Sisters Who Make Waves Season 5'? https://kisskh.at/765611-sisters-who-make-waves-season-5
As a veteran of Yue opera which she learned since she was 13 and now has almost two decades of experience, she will be perfect as A Yu Ya in 'Blades of The Guardians' :D
hk01.com shared in one of their articles titled “李连杰《镖人：风起大漠》甘愿做绿叶完成袁和平80岁梦想“:
[ “李连杰日前（27日）于微博发布一条短片，分享自己愿意接拍、而且甘心做好绿叶角色的主要原因，为预告释出后的讨论解画。李连杰于影片中叹指：“八爷（袁和平）已经80岁了，找到我说希望能够再重拍一部武侠电影，吴京又跟我说要想拍。”袁和平作为举世知名的武术指导，对李连杰更有如师父一样恩重如山，对八爷电影生涯晚年的要求，李连杰抱报恩的心，欣然地接拍《镖人：风起大漠》。]
As per the article above, Jet Li shared that Yuen Woo-ping was already 80- years-old and had sought out Jet Li, hoping he would take part in one more wuxia movie. Wu Jing also chimed in, so how could Jet Li say no to an elder who is also a world-famous martial arts instructor previously treating him as kindly as his own legendary wushu master Wu Bin? How could Jet Li refuse his fellow martial arts brother who had also trained under Wu Bin? Jet Li was eager to repay 八爷 and work with Wu Jing, hence he happily participated in "Blades of The Guardians”.
GSC Movies is a major film distributor in Malaysia, and their description for ‘Blades of The Guardians’ begins with, “The film brings together four generations of wuxia talent, showcasing intense action sequences—from horseback chases to close-quarters combat—with every punch and kick exuding a sharp, dynamic quality….”- https://www.gscmovies.com.my/blades-of-the-guardians/
Henderson Pictures shared BTS from ‘Blades Of The Guardians’ with a clarion call stating, “江湖相聚，只为武侠梦!!” ie The (pugilistic) world gathers, only for the wuxia dream!! - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1510089280735804
Henderson Pictures describes itself in mandarin as a film production and promotion entity. Focus is on providing information on film and television production, planning, investment, and publicity projects in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan, as well as providing excellent production teams in China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, while also providing ground support and other services.
Intercontinental Pictures is a major film distributor in Hong Kong, and their description sharing the official Youtube trailer starts with “四代武俠人齊聚，喚醒三代人的共同記憶!” ie Four Generations of Wuxia Talents have gathered to rouse the collective memories of Three Generations! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGL37amyjKc
The trailer shared by Intercontinental Pictures includes additional details, which the trailer posted by film distributors of other countries do not have.
Anybody who is a wuxia aficionado will automatically recognise Yuen Woo-ping as the oldest and most-respected of wuxia veterans in the entertainment world. Hence the first article I put together for MDL also shares the same sentiments as Wu Jing, beginning with “Four films have been officially announced for the upcoming Lunar New Year period. Blades of the Guardians is one of these films attracting a lot of attention for China’s Spring Festival box office showdown. A trailer and more information have been released, whereby Wu Jing can be seen in several promotional videos emphasising a collaborative martial arts feast created by five generations…”
https://news.mydramalist.com/article/cinematic-wuxia-epic-blades-of-the-guardians-premieres-on-february-17
If you are new to the literary genre of wuxia, this movie promises a great experience to find out more!
I'd say this movie is going to be a great showcase of how older and younger stars demonstrate their acting chops plus martial arts training across various stages. A lot of stunt training, equestrian training, honing of wire work and other details were insisted upon by Yuen Woo-ping. It was originally supposed to be billed as "the reunion of the three great masters" of Jet Li, Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse.
Our beloved 八爷 is already 80-years-old and he told Jet Li he wanted to make one more movie, plus Wu Jing also told Jet Li he wanted to produce this movie. The rest is history. If someone is so ignorant that they are on this page insulting the choice of casting (Wu Jing would definitely defer to Yuen Woo-ping where applicable, such as with Jet Li), it just goes to show what type of person is behind that account, in talking rubbish.
Over the recent years, MDL has been plagued by multiple troll accounts xenophobic against anything from Korea or China. These accounts try to hide their racist tendencies by insulting any or all of the following: The producer, director, actors, looks of the actresses. They also insult the viewers curious or enthusiastic about a movie or drama, with the intentions of driving people off a page.
They sometimes pretend to understand mandarin or hangeul and post aggressively to try to mislead other viewers into believing they know what they are talking about as they trash a drama or movie and various members of the cast or crew, but give themselves away because it is impossible to use a translating machine for everything. The best hilarity is when they rely on chatGPT or Deepseek or something similar to publicly "educate" others about wuxia or the pugilistic world, hence anyone who understands the literary genre known as "wuxia" nowadays literally 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣at how many things they get wrong.
That is why their comments are usually ignored by other MDL users on a drama page, and these trolls sometimes hide their older comments under spoiler tags.
The dynamics of "allies" in this movie can be seen in 13 seconds of this clip, together at night in a carriage XD: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1yu6jBQEgh/
Not awesome for CP-worshippers with no CP for Luo Yunxi, and not satisfactory for people seeking:
1) A ML whose development starts out weak and must cultivate to become strong.
2) A ML who needs romance and will lose his character for romance.
3) A ML who can only have special chemistry with one woman. Just like the novel, drama-Tang Lici has chemistry with everyone (males and females), including multiple women and men.
That's why after so many weeks of the drama airing, some viewer accounts are still stuck on episodes 20, 21 or 25 and cannot watch further because of all the reasons above. Others have started watching for the third time, while I've only watched it twice.
But before that, here's one awesome BTS FMV short that will simultaneously showcase and melt what I'm referring to, of our two spectacularly enchanting leads: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vxeBkReuj4E