Hidden Master

Plot Synopsis

What if The Office met Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon… with a dash of stand-up comedy?

Hidden Master is the kind of show that makes you click “play” for the martial arts—and stay for the workplace trauma in ancient China. It’s a comedy that doesn’t just poke fun at classic Wuxia tropes—it takes a full-on flying kick to them.

Our unlikely hero? Gou Lingfeng (played by Xu Zhisheng), the son of a rich merchant, born with a face that screams “villain” but a heart that dreams of being a legendary hero. After spending 18 years training in what he thought was righteous kung fu—oops, turns out it’s demonic cult magic—he steps into the “jianghu,” or martial world, fully prepared to save the day. Except… everyone thinks he’s the bad guy.

Even his signature move, the elegant “Lingbo Footwork,” ends up smashing wine jars on the street. Add some low-budget CGI and his thick Shandong accent, and you’ve got what fans are calling: “the runaway comedian of the demon cult.”

The Plot (and the Chaos)

Gou Lingfeng’s big dream? To become a certified hero. But in this universe, you need a “Hero License”—yes, like an actual test. His examiner? The sharp-tongued martial diva Ma Yingdan (played by Fan Jingyi), who holds a grudge and isn’t afraid to use it.

At the test site, things go from absurd to full-blown satire:

• Candidates cheat using “model answers” like: “A true hero takes one for the team.”
• Others try to bribe their way in—one even pulls out a POS machine.
• Gou ends up with a “Ugly-Level Hero” certificate. He snaps: “So what if I’m ugly? Can’t I still be a hero?”

From there, he teams up (reluctantly) with Ma Yingdan and Zhuge Heng, the son of a sword saint, forming the “Ugly Hero Alliance.” Together, they solve bizarre mysteries, expose corruption in the so-called “righteous sects,” and prove that being a hero has nothing to do with looks—or even clean morals.

Why You’ll Love Hidden Master

1. Xu Zhisheng: The King of Ugly-Cute Kung Fu

Xu absolutely owns the role of Gou Lingfeng. With his acne-scarred face and greasy hair, he turns “ugly hero” into a full-blown meme machine. There’s a scene where his signature move—“Nine Yin Bone Claw”—fails mid-fight, so he just pokes the air with his fingers. The villain literally asks, “Are you flashing a peace sign?”

His banter with Ma Yingdan? Comedy gold. Every time she roasts him, he claps back in a thick dialect: “This is personal revenge, isn’t it?” It’s Enemies to Lovers, but make it Wuxia Rom-Com.

2. So Meta It Hurts (In a Good Way)

This show knows it’s ridiculous—and leans into it hard.

• Think martial arts exams with multiple-choice questions.
• Kung fu moves that look suspiciously like square-dancing.
• A “Wulin Association” that makes heroes meet KPIs and pay membership fees.
• Even Shaolin monks hold PowerPoint meetings.

It’s like The Mandalorian meets Silicon Valley, but in ancient robes.

One viewer nailed it: “Rename this ‘Corporate Warrior: Ancient Edition.’”

3. Cameos That Steal the Show

Comedy fans, rejoice:

• Hulan plays a bandit exam proctor who deadpans: “We have KPIs too. Gotta rob three convoys a month. Wanna help?”
• Bird Bird (Niao Niao) shows up as a savage sect leader who draws turtles on students’ faces and says, “Ugly people should study harder.”
• Shaobing, as a Buddhist assassin, chants “Mercy be upon you” before every kill.

It’s like every Chinese stand-up comic decided to LARP in a martial arts world—and we’re here for it.