Cast & Character List
Ren Jialun as Xuan Ye
On the surface, Xuan Ye is this carefree, almost devil-may-care demon hunter. But scratch a little deeper, and you'll find a dude carrying some serious baggage. He's a descendant of this ancient Xuan Leopard clan, and they got wiped out. Talk about a rough childhood! On top of that, he's tasked with protecting this mystical "Wu You Tree," which is basically the source of all things magical in the demon world. No pressure, right?
This dude's armed to the teeth with five (yes, FIVE!) divine swords, and he's a whiz with charms and swordplay when it comes to kicking demon butt. But here's the kicker: Xuan Ye is actually half-demon himself! Talk about an identity crisis! He's constantly wrestling with who he is and where he belongs.
Enter Ban Xia (we'll get to her later, I promise!). Meeting her throws Xuan Ye for a loop. He starts off as this lone wolf, all brooding and mysterious. But as he gets to know Ban Xia, he transforms into this selfless protector, willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good. In the midst of all this human-demon conflict, Xuan Ye steps up and uses his unique half-demon powers to bring balance back to the three realms. It's a wild ride, trust me!
Song Zu Er as Ban Xia
We're talking about Ban Xia, played by the amazing Song Zuer. Word is, Song Zuer's acting is solid and convincing, so that's a good sign!
Now, Ban Xia isn't your average heiress. This girl's got a secret weapon: a pair of eyes that can see straight through to the monster – that's demons, for those not up on their Chinese folklore! Talk about a party trick, right? But it also makes her an outcast, seen as "different."
Underneath that seemingly sweet exterior, Ban Xia is tough as nails. When Xuan Ye (more on him later, trust me) saves her bacon, she gets pulled into a whole world of humans and demons. She ends up using her special abilities to help solve some seriously weird cases.
Here's where it gets juicy: apparently, she's the reincarnation of Guanyin (that's the Goddess of Mercy, for the uninitiated). And her destiny is all tangled up with Xuan Ye's. Their relationship is like the engine driving this whole story forward. No spoilers, but let's just say she eventually unlocks some serious goddess-level powers and basically reshapes the whole human-demon world. In the end, she and Xuan Ye become partners, protecting this new order.
So, if you're into a mix of mystery, romance, and a whole lot of supernatural action, keep an eye on Ban Xia. Song Zuer absolutely kills it, and this character is definitely one to watch! Plus, there's buzz that Song Zuer had some tax issues that put the show's release in question, but it looks like things are cleared up, so we're good to go!
Xuan Yan as You Huang
On the surface, You Huang is presented as this respectable, senior figure – basically, the "shishu" or martial uncle to our main guy, Xuan Ye (Ren Jia Lun). You're led to believe he's a wise mentor type. But here's where things get spicy: underneath that calm exterior, he's the mastermind pulling the strings for the demon clan!
This guy is shady. He's using the whole "Wu You Du" (that's "The Demon Hunter's Romance") operation as a front. His real goal? To tear down the barrier between the human and demon realms and unleash chaos. Think of him as a super-manipulative chess player. He's got a knack for playing with people's minds and turning them against each other.
One of the most intense parts of the show is when Xuan Ye realizes his beloved "shishu" is actually the bad guy. Their falling out is epic. But don't worry, this ain't a sob story for You Huang. In the end, he gets what's coming to him when Xuan Ye and Ban Xia (Song Zu Er) team up and take him down in a final showdown.
So, yeah, You Huang is the kind of villain you love to hate. He's complex, cunning, and plays a huge role in driving the drama. Definitely a character to watch out for!
Chen Jiale as Chi Wangchuan
Think of him as a mirror demon with a seriously twisted business model. This guy uses these "Jade Pears" ("碧玉梨") as bait. Sounds innocent enough, right? Wrong! He lures people in and then sucks the life right out of them to control them. Talk about a parasitic relationship!
His whole arc revolves around this woman, Ji Li (Hani Kezi), who's obsessed with staying young forever. Chi Wangchuan is like, "Oh, I can totally help you with that!" He uses some shady "mother-and-child pear" magic to create this whole "Ageless Dancer" legend. Sounds glamorous, but here's the catch: he's basically turning his hosts into tree roots. Seriously creepy stuff.
But karma's a you-know-what, right? Ji Li and Xuan Ye (Ren Jialun), the demon hunter, team up and outsmart him. In the end, Chi Wangchuan gets offed by his own "split body". It's a classic case of being hoist by his own petard, proving that when you're consumed by greed and desire, it'll come back to bite you. So, yeah, Chi Wangchuan is definitely not someone you'd want to meet in a dark alley... or, you know, anywhere. What a creep!
Zhang Zixin as Feng Wuniang
Feng Wuniang (played by Zhang Zixin), and she's a snake demon with a seriously cool job: she's a qin player. Now, a qin is like this ancient Chinese zither – think of it as the ancestor of the guitar, but way more elegant and mystical. Anyway, Feng Wuniang uses her music to basically hypnotize people.
Here's where it gets interesting: she had a past lover who was murdered, and that sent her spiraling into revenge mode. She ends up joining forces with this other character, Chilian, as his right-hand woman. Feng Wuniang is tough, no doubt, but she's also got this tragic backstory that makes you feel for her. In the "Chilian" story arc, she goes all-in to protect Chilian and ends up sacrificing herself. Her story is a window into all the messy drama and grudges that go down in the demon world.
She's like the morally grey character you can't help but root for, even when she's making questionable choices. You know the type!
Liu Ruogu as Chi Xue
Chi Xue is like, seemingly all sunshine and rainbows, right? A total innocent, apprenticed to You Huang. But here's the kicker: she's actually a demon spy! Talk about a twist!
Her mission? Get close to Xuan Ye and steal the secrets of the Wu You Tree. Classic spy stuff, right? But things get complicated because, surprise, surprise, she starts developing feelings for Xuan Ye. I know, I know, forbidden love alert!
Sadly, things don't end well for our girl. Mission fails, and You Huang silences her permanently. Ouch.
Hei Zi as Feng Tian
This dude is Feng Wuniang's older brother, and let me tell you, he's got ambition oozing out of every pore. He's got his eyes set on becoming the top dog in the demon world, and he thinks controlling this place called Wuyou Ferry (aka "The Carefree Ferry," but don't let the name fool you) is his ticket to the big leagues.
Now, Feng Tian isn't playing fair. He's secretly teamed up with this shadowy character named You Huang, which already tells you he's probably not a stand-up guy. Think of him as the scheming type – super suspicious of everyone and not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Spoiler alert: things don't end well for Feng Tian. In a massive showdown between humans and demons, Xuan Ye puts an end to his power grab. He ends up being a casualty of his own ambition.
To summarize, Feng Tian is the classic power-hungry villain you love to hate. You know, the kind who's always plotting and scheming, but ultimately gets what's coming to him.
Cao Jun as Zi Kong
Imagine an ancient, powerful black leopard spirit, right? That's Zi Kong. He's also the older brother of Xuan Ye (one of the main characters). Now, Zi Kong is a stand-up dude, super righteous and kind. But, life throws him a major curveball when his evil uncle, Shen Tu Nan, steals his demon bone. Yeah, you heard me right, demon bone. This puts Zi Kong in a seriously tough spot.
But here's where it gets interesting: Zi Kong's appearance is actually key to unlocking the mysteries surrounding Xuan Ye's past. Talk about family drama! And, in a real tear-jerker moment, Zi Kong ends up sacrificing himself to protect the sacred Wu You Tree. His death is the catalyst that finally awakens Xuan Ye's own half-demon powers. So, yeah, get ready to grab the tissues because Zi Kong's story is a wild ride of brotherly love, sacrifice, and ancient secrets. He's definitely not a character you'll forget easily.
Fan Shuaiqi as Si Ma Lingying
Alright, let's talk about Si Ma Lingying (played by the awesome Fan Shuaiqi) in "The Demon Hunter's Romance" – think of her as the local sheriff in Guangping City. She's not just any small-town cop, though. This lady's got serious skills, and she's got zero tolerance for bad guys, human or demon!
Si Ma Lingying teams up with Xuan Ye and Ban Xia to solve crimes, and she's always there to lend a hand when things get dicey. What's cool about her is that she's super open-minded. She's totally down with the whole human-demon co-existence thing, which, let's be honest, isn't exactly a popular opinion in this world. She's a straight shooter, no-nonsense, and definitely plays a key role in moving the main story along. Basically, she's the kind of character you're always happy to see on screen – a total badass with a good heart!
Hani Kyzy as Ji Li
So, Ji Li starts out as a dancer, right? But here's where it gets twisted. She makes a deal with a mirror demon to stay young forever. Sounds tempting, but BIG mistake! She basically becomes the demon's puppet.
To make matters worse, her memories get wiped like, five times! Each time, it's like a new "version" of her pops up. Can you imagine the identity crisis? Eventually, she's had enough of being a pawn. Driven to the edge, she plots to turn the tables and take down the mirror demon.
Seriously, Ji Li's story is messed up. It's a cautionary tale about how chasing after things like eternal youth and getting obsessed with looks can totally destroy you. She's definitely one of the most talked-about characters in the whole show, and for good reason – her fate is just tragic. Hanikezi totally kills it in the role, by the way. You'll be rooting for her, even when she's making some questionable choices. Trust me, you'll have opinions about Ji Li.
Wu Chongxuan as Chi Lian
This dude is a snake demon who used to be a chill musician, playing his qin (that's a traditional Chinese instrument, kinda like a zither). But then tragedy struck. His lover got offed, and that sent Chi Lian spiraling down a dark path.
Now, he's all about revenge and chaos. He uses his music to mess with people's minds, manipulating them and setting them up for some seriously bad situations. He's basically a puppet master with a vendetta.
Of course, our heroes Xuan Ye and Ban Xia aren't having any of it. They're on a mission to expose Chi Lian's schemes and bring him to justice. But here's the kicker: in the final showdown, Chi Lian has a moment of clarity. He realizes the error of his ways and decides to atone for his sins by destroying his own demon core. Talk about a dramatic exit!
His last words, "Even demons have feelings," really hit you in the feels. It's a powerful statement about prejudice and the idea that not everyone is what they seem. So, yeah, Chi Lian is a complex character – a villain with a tragic past who ultimately chooses redemption. Definitely one to watch!
