镖人
Blades of the Guardians
An escort, a fugitive and the road to Chang'an at the end of the Sui dynasty
Synopsis
In 607, under the tyrannical reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the escort Dao Ma roams the western deserts with the child he is raising, Xiao Qi. A former elite soldier, he is wanted by the court.
A benefactor entrusts him with a mission: escort Zhi Shilang, a rebel leader with a price on his head, to Chang'an. Bounty hunters, desert clans and imperial armies set off in pursuit, while a conspiracy threatens the entire empire.
Based on Xu Xianzhe's manhua, Colored Pencil Animation's donghua aired on Tencent Video from 1 June 2023 (15 episodes). Season two began on 11 June 2026, a few months after the success of the live-action film.
World
The story takes place at the end of the Sui dynasty, among western deserts, oasis towns and the roads leading to Chang'an. Steppe kingdoms, merchant clans, mercenaries and imperial soldiers make up a harsh world where everyone fights to survive.
Power system
Blades of the Guardians is realistic wuxia: no magic, but brutal bladed combat choreographed to the millimetre. Strength comes from technique, experience and cunning.
Reception & popularity
The manhua's artwork drew praise as far as Japan. The film Blades of the Guardians: Feng Qi Da Mo, released on 17 February 2026 for Chinese New Year, passed 1.2 billion yuan and set the Chinese box-office record for a wuxia film.
My take
Blades of the Guardians is the rawest wuxia in the catalogue: no magic, fights of stark violence and a hero who barely speaks. The donghua's direction respects the precision of Xu Xianzhe's linework.
The first season is short and ends too soon, and the many factions can lose the viewer. But the Dao Ma / Xiao Qi duo is enough to make you want to know what happens next.
Who is it for?Watch it if you enjoy realistic wuxia, westerns and old-school fight choreography.
Main characters
More character profiles are coming.
Adaptations
This franchise also exists in other formats — each with its own pacing and audience.
Trivia
- The manhua has been published since 1 July 2015 and runs to 13 volumes.
- The film was directed by Yuen Woo-ping, the legendary choreographer of The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, with Wu Jing as Dao Ma.
- Xiao Qi's ritual of counting with his eyes closed while Dao Ma fights has become one of the work's most iconic images.
If you liked…
More donghua to discover after Blades of the Guardians: same author or same genres.
