Word of Honor (TV series)
Word of Honor is a Chinese wuxia drama series based on the danmei novel "Faraway Wanderers" (天涯客) by Priest. It aired from February 22 to May 5 in 2021 on the Youku streaming platform. The series is comprised of 36 forty-five minute episodes as well as a 15 minute 37th bonus that serves as a music video and Epilogue.
Synopsis
Word of Honor tells the story of an assassin, Zhou Zishu (played by Zhang Zhehan and voiced by Gu Jiangshan), who has become disillusioned with his life as founder and leader of the "Window of Heaven" organization. Leaving in a manner meant to bring him certain death within three years, he disguises himself as a beggar and intends to live his remaining years drinking and wandering jianghu. Once disguised, Zhou Zishu encounters the mysterious gentlemen, Wen Kexing (played by Gong Jun and voiced by Wang Kai), later revealed to be master of the Ghost Valley, a homeland for criminal "ghosts" and others pushed out of regular society. Intent on avenging the life of his parents, Wen Kexing has set in motion plans to destroy jianghu centered around pursuit of the elusive Glazed Armor, a key rumored to unlock an armory filled with the martial arts knowledge of all sects. Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing discover themselves to be soulmates and find within each other a reason to live.
Main Cast
| Character | Actor | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Zhou Zishu
("A'Xu" or "Lord Zhou") |
Zhang Zhehan | Former leader of the Window of Heaven.
Orphaned at a young age, first by the death of his parents and then his guardian, Zhou Zishu must abandon his life as leader of Four Seasons Manor to support his cousin Helian Yi, Prince of Jin, in his quest to become supreme ruler. Under Prince Jin, Zhou Zishu founds the assassins organiziation the Window of Heaven, a secret society that can only be left through death or a particular form of torture. Zhou Zishu eventually leaves the Window of Heaven in gruesome manner and wanders jianghu drinking himself to death. |
| Wen Kexing
("Lao Wen" or "Philanthropist Wen" or "Ghost Valley Master") |
Gong Jun | Ghost Valley Master.
Born to be a healer, Wen Kexing is orphaned as a child and instead raised by the Ghosts of the Ghost Valley. He grows to become the leader of the Ghost Valley, but wanders jianghu disguised as a philanthropist in the company of his ward Gu Xiang, plotting revenge for the murder of his parents. |
| Zhang Chengling | Sun Xilun | Third son of Zhang Yusen, leader of the Mirror Lake sect, Zhang Chengling is orphaned and entrusted to the care of Zhou Zishu. While hiding a secret, and after much persistance, Chengling becomes a disciple of Zhou Zishu and joins him in his travels with Wen Kexing. |
| Gu Xiang
("A'Xiang" or "Amethyst Fiend") |
Zhou Ye | Rescued as a foundling and raised in the Ghost Valley by Wen Kexing. Gu Xiang travels with Wen Kexing and aids him in his revenge plot. A'Xiang is a skilled martial artist, quick with a whip or a dagger. While assisting Wen Kexing, Gu Xiang meets and falls in love with Cao Weining. |
| Cao Weining | Ma Wenyuan | Yet another orphan, Cao Weining is a disciple of the [?] Sword Sect. He meets and falls in love with Gu Xiang on first sight and slowly earns her trust and love. |
| Ye Baiyi
("The Sword Immortal") |
Huang You Ming | After gaining immortality through mastery of the martial arts technique known as the Six Cultivation, he is called down from his isolation on Mount Chang Ming to make good on a promise to aid in the destruction of the Ghost Valley. He comes to travel with Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing, unaware of Wen Kexing's true background. |
Primary Supporting Characters
Ghost Valley
Tragicomic Ghost / Luo Fumeng - holds mock "marriages" between men and the funeral markers of the women they have wronged, where the men and their close friends are required to murder each other in "cage match" style. Helped raise Wen Kexing in the Ghost Valley. Former lover of Zhou.
Beauty Ghost / Liu Qianqiao - Expert in the art of disguise. Close companion of Tragicomic Ghost. Former lover of Yu Qiufeng.
Changing Ghost - Works in secret with Zhou Jing to destroy the Ghost Valley and the Five Lakes Alliance
Lustful Ghost - Known for his ill-treatment of women. Aids Changing Ghost in his efforts to destroy the Ghost Valley Master
Happy Ghost - Identified by a scar in the form of a ghastly smile. Aids [Green] Ghost in his efforts to destroy the Ghost Valley Master
Window of Heaven
Prince Jin/Helian Yi - a prince and Zhou Zishu's cousin; he controls the Window of Heaven as a weapon to assassinate those who oppose him.
Duan Pengju - succeeds Zhou Zishu as leader of the Window of Heaven
Han Ying - a disciple of Zhou Zishu who remains loyal to him after his departure
Five Lakes Alliance
Chief Gao Chong - Eldest "brother" and leader of the Five Lakes Alliance consortium of martial arts sects
Zhou Jing - Second "brother" in the Aliance and leader of [his own] sect. Godfather to Xie Wang.
Shen Shen - Youngest "brother" in the Alliance; suspected of being in league with the Ghost Valley
Scorpion Assassins
Xie Wang - Scorpion King - Leader of the Scorpion assassins. Godson to Zhou Jing. He uses a team of assassins and drug men to help destroy the Five Lakes Alliance.
Evil Boddhisatva / Da Pusa - Chief assassin.
Others in Jianghu
Long Que / Uncle Long -- the Master of Puppet Manor, a sect known for its technological advances.
Xiao Long - son to Long Que. Confined to a wheelchair from birth, he has imprisoned his father and created the "drug men"
Beggar gang