一人之下
The Outcast
Beneath modern China, a secret world of Taoist masters and forbidden powers
Synopsis
Zhang Chulan lives an uneventful student life until the day his grandfather's grave is desecrated and reanimated corpses attack him. A mysterious young woman wielding a shovel, Feng Baobao, gets him out of trouble.
He then learns of the "outsiders" (异人), people able to manipulate qi, and of a delivery company, Nadutong, tasked with keeping them in check. The secret his grandfather took to the grave, tied to the Thirty-Six Thieves of 1944, makes him a target.
Based on Mi Er's manhua, the donghua began in 2016 as a co-production with Japan, where it aired as Hitori no Shita. The series has six seasons, the sixth premiering in January 2026.
World
The story takes place in present-day China, where outsiders live hidden among ordinary people. Great Taoist schools such as the Celestial Masters' Mansion and Wudang, family clans and the outlaw sect Quanxing (全性) clash there, under the watchful eye of the Nadutong company.
Power system
Powers rest on mastery of qi (炁), cultivated through Taoist practice, martial arts or family heritage. At the top stand the Eight Extraordinary Techniques (八奇技), born of the Jiashen Incident, so powerful that a mere rumour of them sparks wars.
Reception & popularity
The manhua ranks among the most-read titles on Tencent Animation & Comics, and the donghua was one of the first to break through in Japan thanks to its broadcast on Tokyo MX. Its success led to a live-action adaptation, I Am Nobody, on Youku and Netflix.
My take
The Outcast is one of the most distinctive donghua in the catalogue: no imaginary world or cultivation realms, but today's China, where Taoist masters fight between subway rides. Its mix of absurd humour and very serious mythology works remarkably well.
The studio changes between seasons show in the animation, and the opening episodes can feel slight. But from the Luotian Dajiao onward, the series reveals real depth, carried by endearing characters like Feng Baobao and Wang Ye.
Who is it for?Watch it if you enjoy urban fantasy, martial arts fights and mysteries that unfold over several seasons.
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 was first published in 2015 under the title Yi Ren (异人) before taking its final name.
- The first season was co-produced with Japanese studios Emon and Pandanium and dubbed in Japanese for its TV broadcast.
- Feng Baobao's shovel has become a symbol of the series, appearing on countless pieces of merchandise.
If you liked…
More donghua to discover after The Outcast: same author or same genres.
