Whispers of Fate
Whispers of Fate is a 2025 Chinese television series based on the serialized martial arts novel Enduring a Thousand Tribulations by Teng Ping. It stars Luo Yunxi as Tang Lici, a highly skilled yet morally ambiguous swordsman who is accused of murder, and his martial arts adventures. The series premiered on Mango TV and on October 24, followed by a broadcast on Hunan Television on October 30. The series received an international release across more than 110 countries, streaming simultaneously on platforms such as Netflix, WeTV, Rakuten Viki and featuring localizations in languages including English, Thai, and Vietnamese.
Whispers of Fate achieved high broadcast and streaming performance, setting a record for Mango TV with 4.9 billion cumulative plays, being Migu Video's highest-rated content ever and topping international charts in multiple regions. Its concert is the third Chinese television drama concert to reach an audience on a scale of ten thousand. A related Whispers of Fate Theme Park, located in Sichuan Province, is mainland China's first immersive film-tourism complex. The park transforms the series' xuanxia universe into a large-scale live-action role-playing experience, allowing visitors to influence narrative outcomes within a technologically enhanced environment featuring AR and VR integrations.
Synopsis
The morally inscrutable Tang Lici is framed by a former friend, and is forced to enter jianghu to clear his name.During his journey across the lands, his initial detachment softens as he is gradually influenced by the community's profound code of chivalry and courageous spirit. As this transformation occurs, he uncovers a sinister plot: under the manipulation of the House of Pleasure, the entire martial arts community faces extermination.
Tang Lici realizes he must not only shoulder the fate of the world but also confront his true identity and purpose, leading him to finally face his destiny.
Cast
Main
- Luo Yunxi as Tang Lici
- * Tang Lici : Given the nickname 'Fox Tang' due to his sly and astute nature, Tang Lici was formerly known as Ajibaner·Tangjia before entering Zhoudi Tower as a disciple. He is a highly-skilled swordsman who is known for his sound-kill abilities through playing the dizi and the Guqin. He is the owner of the Ship of Ten Thousand Apertures, the center of all wealth in the lands. The discovery of the highly addictive and poisonous 'Bloody Ghost of Nine Hearts Pill' in the martial arts community comes to his attention, and he works together with the orthodox sects to find the source and destroy it forever.
Supporting
- Xiao Shunyao as Shen Langhun, a stealth assassin
- Ao Ziyi as Chi Yun, Tang Lici's bodyguard
- Fang Yilun as Liu Yan, former third disciple brother of Zhoudi Tower and well-versed in the Pipa. Founder of the House of Pleasure
- Chen Yao as Xifang Tao, member of the House of Pleasure
- Bao Shangen as Zhong Chunji, member of the Sword Society
- Jelly Lin as Ah-Shei
- Jeremy Tsui as Gui Mudan
- Riley Wang as Fang Pingzhai
- Yang Shize as Puzhu, a secular disciple
- Xie Binbin as Yu Furen
- Jiang Zhenyu as Miss Hong, member of the House of Pleasure
- Bai Shu as Xue Xianzi, a carefree martial artist with no loyalties
- Li Jiahao as Gu Xitan
- Chang Huasen as Wanyu Yuedan, leader of the Palace of Fallen Jade
- Xia Zhiguang as Fu Zhumei, former second disciple brother of Zhoudi Tower and well-versed in the Drum
- Zhang Zhixi as Dragon Lady
- Wang Jialin as Bai Nanzhu
- Kudousi Jiang Ainiwaer as Yuchi Hu
- Ou Mide as Mahoraga
- Qi Xiaxia as Gandharva
- Qiu Xinzhi as Shao Yanping, leader of the Sword Society
- Zhang Junning as Fang Zhou, oldest disciple brother of Zhoudi Tower and well-versed in the Guqin. He takes in the wounded Tang Lici after finding him unconscious.
- Wang Zirui as Cheng Yinpao
- Xiu Qing as Yu Qifeng
- Cui Peng as Yang Shangqing
- Lu Xingyu as Jiang Qingyu
- Liu Yuhan as Hua Wuyan, member of the House of Pleasure
- Zhang Lei as Tang Weiqian, Tang Lici's adopted father and father-in-law to the Emperor
- Chen Bohao as Sir Tianxuan
- Du Yuchen as Yu Xuanqing
- Hou Tongjiang as the Abbot of Gold Leaf Temple
- Li Yizhen as Princess Xiya
- Bai Haitao as Marquis Hao
- Zhao Shiyi as Huiniang, Shen Langhun's wife
- Ai Mi as Shuiduo Po
- Li Muyan as Bai Suche
- Zhong Lei as Jiang Feiyu, Head of Yanmen Sect
- Xue Bayi as Feng Chuanxiang
- Deng Xiaoci as Jiang Cheng
- Deng Jinghong as Ji Wuyou
- Zhong Ming as Jiang Wenbo
- Wang Yijun as Xiao Qilan
- Mu Le'en as Shang Yunqi
- Cheng Tao as Shangguan Fei
- Wang Bowen as Fu Cui
- Qin Xiaoxuan as Bi Lianyi
- Yusan·Ababaikeri as Meihua Yishu
- Jia Zongchao as Kuanglan Wuxing
- Wang Baian as Lady Cicada
Production
Whispers of Fate was announced on November 11, 2023, at Mango TV's Commercial Presentation. The series began filming on December 2, 2023, and finished on April 24, 2024. This series marks the third Otters Studio production with Luo Yunxi in the leading role, after Till The End Of The Moon and the unaired Immortality. Otters Studio also brings back frequent collaborators Huatian Studio as its world concept team, Huang Wei as costume director and Wang Haiqi as action director.Filmed over 144 days, the production used over 2,000 crew members, 12 purpose-built soundstages, and 164 outdoor locations. For the series, 847 costumes and 1,222 accessories were specifically designed.
International Broadcast
For its international release, Whispers of Fate was distributed across more than 110 countries and territories, with availability on global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Rakuten Viki, iQiyi International, and WeTV. The show was localized into several languages, including English, Thai, and Vietnamese, for its simultaneous global launch.Reception
Viewership
Since its premiere, Whispers of Fate achieved both high broadcast ratings and online streaming numbers. It has dominated both the National Network and CSM-71 Cities ratings, consistently ranking first in its time slot among China's provincial satellite channels. For its release on streaming platforms, the drama becomes 's highest-rated content ever with a heat index surpassing 15,000. As of its finale, it sets a new platform record for Mango TV with 4.9 billion cumulative plays. It achieved a single-day peak of 100 million views. According to the 2025 domestic TV drama viewership report released by the National Radio and Television Administration, during its broadcast on Hunan TV, Whispers of Fate achieved a local audience rating of 1.601%. The report also confirms the show garnered over 8.2 billion topic reads on Weibo and ranked first in viewership among TV dramas on Mango TV in 2025. Internationally, the series launched simultaneously across 19 platforms in over 60 global markets spanning 110 countries and territories, topping charts including Thailand's Monomax and Vietnam's FTP Play Chinese-language chart. Whispers of Fate was the most watched television show on Monomax in 2025.Impact
Less than a month after the finale of Whispers of Fate, its spin-off variety show "Whispers of Fate: Team Bonding in Jianghu" has surpassed 100 million views. As of 2025 December 8th, official merchandise sales for Whispers of Fate have exceeded 13.6 million RMB, securing its position as the top-selling annual merchandise champion for a 2025 Chinese television drama. Luo Yunxi alone contributed to 86% of these sales. Audiences are purchasing items primarily "to compensate for the lingering regret over the characters' destinies," with non-traditional fanbase users joining in to consume.Whispers of Fate has hosted costume exhibitions across multiple locations in mainland China, with the first one held in Guangzhou. For the drama's series concert at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, online pre-registrations surpassed 100,000. A total of 14,000 tickets across the first and second rounds sold out within 16 minutes, prompting organizers to add more seats and tickets. The event ultimately attracted nearly 20,000 attendees, making it the third Chinese television drama series concert to reach a ten-thousand-scale audience, following The Untamed and Word of Honor.