A poor orphan apprenticed at the porcelain kilns of his small town, the Lizhu Cave Heaven, Chen Ping'an seems to have no future in a world reserved for geniuses. When the sky opens over the town, he finds himself at the centre of a destiny that will lead him to the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Personality
Patient, thoughtful and stubbornly honest, Chen Ping'an weighs every decision with a caution surprising in one so young. He sets himself simple principles and keeps them, even when it costs him. This uprightness, more than strength, makes him a hero.
Powers & abilities
With no particular innate talent, he builds his path step by step through work, willpower and the teachings of those he meets. He gradually becomes a formidable swordsman and martial artist, whose strength rests on a patiently built foundation.
History
The events in the small town upend his life and bring him to meet Ning Yao, a young swordswoman from elsewhere. Tasked with escorting the town's children to a distant academy, he discovers a vast and dangerous world, where he learns as much from books as from ordeals. His path leads him toward the Sword Qi Great Wall, where Ning Yao awaits.
Relationships
Ning Yao is the young woman he loves and wants to join. Qi Jingchun, the town's schoolmaster, deeply shapes his worldview. Liu Xianyang, his childhood friend, and the children he escorts are among his dearest bonds.
Key moments
- Meeting Ning Yao in the small town's alley.
- Qi Jingchun's farewell, which marks his youth.
- The escort journey, where he discovers the wider world.
In the adaptations
Tencent Video's 3D donghua, launched in 2024, adapts Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou's novel with particular care for the small town's atmosphere.
Did you know?
- The Chinese title, Jian Lai (剑来), means "the sword comes".
- The author, Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou, was already known for Sword Snow Stride (Xue Zhong Han Dao Xing).
Our take
Chen Ping'an is a hero against the grain: he wins through constancy and honesty, not genius. Sword of Coming is a slow, deep saga carried by this character.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan