# Sword and Fairy (祈今朝)

**Sword and Fairy** (祈今朝, *Qi Jin Zhao*) is a 2024 Chinese xianxia (Chinese fantasy genre of immortal cultivators and magic) television series adapted from the single-player role-playing game *Chinese Paladin 6* (仙剑奇侠传六) by Softstar Entertainment, starring [Xu Kai](https://www.edgepedia.org/xu-kai) and Esther Yu as two amnesiac companions searching for their origins<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)</sup>. It ran for 36 episodes on [Tencent Video](https://www.edgepedia.org/tencent-video) beginning January 18, 2024, one day after the rival platform iQIYI premiered *Chinese Paladin 4*, setting up a head-to-head airing of two dramas from the same game franchise<sup>[2](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.chasingdramas.com/drama-updates-transcript/february-2024-chinese-drama-update-chinese-paladin-4-sword-and-fairy-love-endures-admist-a-snowstorm-of-love/)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chinese title | 祈今朝 (Qi Jin Zhao); international title Sword and Fairy<sup>[4](https://drama.fandom.com/wiki/Sword_and_Fairy_%282024%29)</sup> |
| Source material | The game *Chinese Paladin 6* (仙剑奇侠传六) by Softstar Entertainment<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup> |
| Broadcast | 36 episodes, Tencent Video, premiered January 18, 2024<sup>[2](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)</sup> |
| Lead cast | Xu Kai as Yue Jinzhao and Bian Luohuan (double role); Esther Yu as Yue Qi<sup>[5](https://www.cpophome.com/sword-and-fairy-xu-kai-esther-yu/)</sup> |
| Director and music | Liu Guo Nan (with Sun Meng Fei); score by Yuki Kajiura and Mak Chun Hung<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup> |
| Filming | August 5 to November 30, 2022<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup> |
| Reception | Douban 4.9 as of February 6, 2024; Tencent danmu interactions passed 15 million by January 30, 2024<sup>[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26274546?commTag=true)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)</sup> |

## Spoilers

### Premise and characters

The story opens with Yue Jinzhao (越今朝) and [Yue Qi](https://www.edgepedia.org/yue-qi) (越祈) waking in Wuyan Village three years before the main action, with no memory of their pasts and a mysterious "resonance" (共鸣) linking them. They travel the jianghu (the martial-arts world of wandering heroes and factions) together as companions, hoping to recover their lost memories and identities<sup>[7](https://wetv.vip/zh-tw/play/xbt9vh2njpp6a5n/a0045z4t1pr-Ph%E1%BA%A7n_%C4%91%C3%B3ng_m%C3%A1y_%C4%91%E1%BA%B7c_bi%E1%BB%87t_%7C_Ti%C3%AAn_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_6%3A_K%E1%BB%B3_Kim_Tri%C3%AAu)</sup>. Their journey draws them into a cult's unrest (the Qihun Sacred Sect) and the blood-sacrifice mysteries of the Luo family stronghold, and during the fight against the sect a seal on Yue Qi's memories and emotions is unexpectedly broken<sup>[7](https://wetv.vip/zh-tw/play/xbt9vh2njpp6a5n/a0045z4t1pr-Ph%E1%BA%A7n_%C4%91%C3%B3ng_m%C3%A1y_%C4%91%E1%BA%B7c_bi%E1%BB%87t_%7C_Ti%C3%AAn_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_6%3A_K%E1%BB%B3_Kim_Tri%C3%AAu)</sup>.

Along the way the pair gathers a six-person party: Luo Zhaoyan, head of the Luo family stronghold; Ju Shifang, a maker of mechanical devices; Xian Qing, a thousand-year wolf demon; and the master-and-disciple pair Gu Hanjiang and Ming Xiu, who hates demons<sup>[8](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26180195)</sup>. Four factions converge on the plot: the Zhengwu Alliance, the Qihun Sacred Sect, the Hengdaozhong, and the Yu demon tribe, as the protagonists work to uncover the mystery of the "Nine Springs" and save the world<sup>[7](https://wetv.vip/zh-tw/play/xbt9vh2njpp6a5n/a0045z4t1pr-Ph%E1%BA%A7n_%C4%91%C3%B3ng_m%C3%A1y_%C4%91%E1%BA%B7c_bi%E1%BB%87t_%7C_Ti%C3%AAn_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_6%3A_K%E1%BB%B3_Kim_Tri%C3%AAu)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26180195)</sup>.

Xu Kai plays a double role as Yue Jinzhao and Bian Luohuan, a gentle mentor who resembles the male lead; the drama makes Bian Luohuan, who has little connection to Yue Qi in the game, into a one-sided love interest, an adaptation choice that divided viewers<sup>[5](https://www.cpophome.com/sword-and-fairy-xu-kai-esther-yu/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26180195)</sup>. The supporting cast includes Fu Xinbo as Xian Qing, Wan Peng as Luo Zhaoyan, Bai Bingke as Ming Xiu, and Zhou Lijie as Ju Shifang<sup>[5](https://www.cpophome.com/sword-and-fairy-xu-kai-esther-yu/)</sup>.

## Production

The series was directed by Liu Guo Nan and Sun Meng Fei, with Wang Hong leading a team of screenwriters; the score was composed by [Yuki Kajiura](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuki-kajiura) and Mak Chun Hung, and production companies included Shandong Film & TV Media, Linique Pictures, Asian Stars, and Soft Stars<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup>. Filming ran from August 5 to November 30, 2022<sup>[1](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)</sup>. Internationally the series streamed on WeTV, simulcast with the Chinese release in Thailand from January 18, 2024<sup>[9](https://mgronline.com/drama/detail/9670000006142)</sup>.

The soundtrack leaned on nostalgia for the earlier Xianjian dramas: new insert songs were performed by the duo JS and Zhang Yunjing, singers associated with the classic *Chinese Paladin* and *Chinese Paladin 3* television soundtracks<sup>[8](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26180195)</sup>.

## Reception

**Engagement metrics were strong even as critical scores were low.** On January 19, 2024, one day after premiere, Tencent announced the drama had set the platform's 2024 record for the fastest TV drama to pass one million danmu (bullet-comment) interactions, with a total of 1.5 million<sup>[10](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1705647917169448.html)</sup>. Interactions passed 10 million on January 25 after seven consecutive days above one million per day, and 15 million by January 30<sup>[11](https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2024-01-26/doc-inaevxky0039940.shtml)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)</sup>. In the ArtEnt content index for late January 2024 it ranked ninth among all web dramas with a play index of 342.63<sup>[12](https://runwise.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/sites/15/2024/03/2024%E5%B9%B41%E6%9C%88%E6%96%87%E5%A8%B1%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%9A%E5%B8%82%E5%9C%BA%E8%A7%82%E5%AF%9F_%E8%89%BA%E6%81%A9_2024%E5%B9%B4.pdf)</sup>.

Critical reception was mixed to negative. As of February 6, 2024 the drama held a Douban score of 4.9, in the platform's low-to-mid range, against 4.2 for *Chinese Paladin 4*; a later report gives its opening score as 5.1<sup>[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26274546?commTag=true)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[13](https://ent.sina.cn/2026-04-18/detail-inhuwnkq0464524.d.html?oid=anti+rungkad+demo+slot%E3%80%90GB999.bet%E3%80%91.jrbu&vt=4)</sup>. Common criticisms targeted the idol-drama styling and makeup, the perceived childishness of some comedic scenes, and Esther Yu's high-pitched delivery, while reviewers generally judged the mystery and adventure plotting to be within the franchise's framework and reasonably paced<sup>[6](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26274546?commTag=true)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[14](https://yule.360.com/detail/3536141)</sup>. A fan-community assessment called it the most faithful live-action adaptation in the Xianjian series, estimating roughly 80 percent script fidelity while noting heavy changes to the Bian Luohuan storyline and low-budget large-scale scenes<sup>[15](https://bangumi.tv/subject/352742/collections)</sup>.

The drama's official account reported that its soundtrack was the most-streamed drama original soundtrack of 2024 on NetEase Cloud Music and that the series placed in WeTV's 2024 global top five most popular Chinese costume dramas<sup>[16](https://weibo.com/xjqxzl)</sup>. A Sina entertainment piece credited it with a faithful rendering of the game's characters and a nuanced treatment of chivalry across opposing factions, noting praise from Yao Zhuangxian, the creator of the Xianjian series, and from the game's original artist<sup>[17](https://k.sina.cn/article_7879922982_1d5ae152601909xb5g.html)</sup>.

## Place in the Xianjian franchise

The drama belongs to the *Legend of Sword and Fairy* (仙剑奇侠传) franchise, a long-running Chinese RPG series spanning nine generations of games, several of which have been adapted for television<sup>[18](https://financialfilings.com/filings/cmge-technology-group-limited/earnings-release/2026/33079029/)</sup>. It was one of three Xianjian dramas released in early 2024, alongside *Sword and Fairy: Youjian Xiaoyao* (a remake of the first game's story) and *Legend of Sword and Fairy 4*<sup>[18](https://financialfilings.com/filings/cmge-technology-group-limited/earnings-release/2026/33079029/)</sup>. CMGE Technology Group, the IP holder, later cooperated with the team behind *Qi Jinzhao* to develop a series of micro-short dramas exploring supporting characters from across the nine game generations<sup>[18](https://financialfilings.com/filings/cmge-technology-group-limited/earnings-release/2026/33079029/)</sup>.

## References

1. [Sword and Fairy – DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Sword_and_Fairy)
2. [许凯、虞书欣主演《祈今朝》腾讯视频站内弹幕互动量破1500万 – 新京报](https://www.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1706602816168574.html)
3. [February 2024 Chinese drama update – Chasing Dramas](https://www.chasingdramas.com/drama-updates-transcript/february-2024-chinese-drama-update-chinese-paladin-4-sword-and-fairy-love-endures-admist-a-snowstorm-of-love/)
4. [Sword and Fairy (2024) – Drama Wiki Fandom](https://drama.fandom.com/wiki/Sword_and_Fairy_%282024%29)
5. [Sword and Fairy – CPOP HOME](https://www.cpophome.com/sword-and-fairy-xu-kai-esther-yu/)
6. [不要再拍"仙剑"了，住手吧！ – 澎湃新闻](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26274546?commTag=true)
7. [《仙劍六祈今朝》殺青特輯 – WeTV](https://wetv.vip/zh-tw/play/xbt9vh2njpp6a5n/a0045z4t1pr-Ph%E1%BA%A7n_%C4%91%C3%B3ng_m%C3%A1y_%C4%91%E1%BA%B7c_bi%E1%BB%87t_%7C_Ti%C3%AAn_Ki%E1%BA%BFm_6%3A_K%E1%BB%B3_Kim_Tri%C3%AAu)
8. ["仙剑"重启，为何双双折戟？ – 澎湃新闻·湃客](https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26180195)
9. [เรื่องย่อซีรีส์จีน "SWORD AND FAIRY" [2024] – MGR Online](https://mgronline.com/drama/detail/9670000006142)
10. [《祈今朝》创2024年腾讯视频电视剧弹幕互动量最快破百万纪录 – 新京报](https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1705647917169448.html)
11. [许凯、虞书欣新剧《祈今朝》腾讯视频站内弹幕互动量破千万 – 新浪财经](https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2024-01-26/doc-inaevxky0039940.shtml)
12. [2024年1月文娱行业市场观察 – 艺恩](https://runwise.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/sites/15/2024/03/2024%E5%B9%B41%E6%9C%88%E6%96%87%E5%A8%B1%E8%A1%8C%E4%B8%9A%E5%B8%82%E5%9C%BA%E8%A7%82%E5%AF%9F_%E8%89%BA%E6%81%A9_2024%E5%B9%B4.pdf)
13. ["重启"立刻"折戟",仙剑IP是否还能"亮剑"? – 新浪](https://ent.sina.cn/2026-04-18/detail-inhuwnkq0464524.d.html?oid=anti+rungkad+demo+slot%E3%80%90GB999.bet%E3%80%91.jrbu&vt=4)
14. [好家伙！《祈今朝》播出后差评一片！ – 360娱乐](https://yule.360.com/detail/3536141)
15. [看过 祈今朝 的 Bangumi 成员 – Bangumi](https://bangumi.tv/subject/352742/collections)
16. [电视剧《祈今朝》官方微博](https://weibo.com/xjqxzl)
17. [《祈今朝》:创新诠释少年侠义 – 新浪娱乐](https://k.sina.cn/article_7879922982_1d5ae152601909xb5g.html)
18. [CMGE Technology Group Limited – Earnings Release](https://financialfilings.com/filings/cmge-technology-group-limited/earnings-release/2026/33079029/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles Sp to Z*

*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license