The Journey of Legend Chinese Drama Review, First Impressions and Thoughts

Today, I want to share my thoughts on the currently airing drama The Journey of Legend.

This drama caught my attention right away because of its unique premise and the way it blends humor, emotions, and classic wuxia tropes. Let’s dive into what makes it stand out so far.

The Premise

The story follows Xiao Ming Ming, a modern-day man who loves martial arts novels. He writes a story where the male lead, Xiao Qiushui, is basically the definition of a perfect character: untouchable skills, flawless energy, and unbeatable strength.

But here’s the twist—Ming Ming gets transported into his own novel, only to find himself as Xiao Qiushui. The catch? He doesn’t actually have the incredible abilities of the character he created. Instead, he’s left with average martial arts skills, limited internal energy, and no real advantage.

To regain the full powers of his “perfect” character, he must become the leader of the Huanhua Sect. As sect leader, he’ll also gain the ability to rewrite the plot of his novel—but only if he can survive the challenges without interference from the system that governs the story.

Premiere and Cast

The drama premiered on September 11, 2025, and you can find all the details (and watch links!) over on my blog, ChineseDramaWorld.com.

The series is led by:

Cheng Yi as Xiao Ming Ming / Xiao Qiushui / Li Chenzhou
Guli Nazha as Xiao Qiushui
Eleanor Lee as Tang Fang

And yes, I’ll admit it—I’m still working on my pronunciation (wo de zhongwen bu hao, wo hai zai lianxi!).

Early Impressions

By the time of writing this, I’ve watched up to episode 15, and so far, the drama has been a fun ride. The first episodes were lighthearted and funny, especially as Xiao Ming Ming struggled to adjust to this strange new world without the “cheat codes” of martial arts mastery.

One emotional highlight was when he met his mother in the novel world. From the way it played out, it seems like he may have lost his mom in reality. That reunion was heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I think it explains why Ming Ming grows so protective of his family later on.

The System and the Plot

At first, I thought the story might fall flat. After all, if Ming Ming wrote the novel, shouldn’t he already know every twist and outcome? Wouldn’t that make every challenge predictable for him?

But the drama handled this brilliantly. The system steps in to stop him from “spoiling” the plot or giving people shortcuts. If a character was destined to die, Ming Ming couldn’t interfere without punishment. And in true Cheng Yi fashion, that punishment usually means enduring suffering and—you guessed it—spitting blood. (Though it took him nine whole episodes to spit out a tiny drop. Has Cheng Yi gone soft on us?)

The tension really picks up around episodes 12 onward, and Ming Ming quickly learns that the world he created is more unpredictable than he thought.

Questions That Bother Me

As much as I’m enjoying the drama, a few details left me scratching my head:

If Ming Ming wrote the novel, why doesn’t he know about the Power Gang spies who surround him—even among his closest allies?
What’s the actual point of the Hero Token? Supposedly, every martial artist should bow to whoever holds it, but I’ve seen it pass through several hands without anyone showing the slightest respect.

Small details, sure, but they bugged me as a viewer.

Standout Characters

I have to give special mention to Tang Fang (Eleanor Lee, from Fake Princess). At first, her character felt a bit stiff, but she’s grown into one of my favorites. Every time she appears on screen, the energy shifts in a good way. I’m really curious to see how her story unfolds.

On the flip side, let’s talk about Yiren. Oh boy. He might just be one of the most irritating characters I’ve ever seen. (Character, not actor—let’s be clear!)

Yiren claims to want to rebuild the Xiao family’s glory, but every action he takes undermines it. His obsession with becoming master of the Huanhua Sect drives most of his decisions, but instead of strengthening the family, he ends up weakening it.

By episodes 26 to 28, Yiren went full clown mode. First, he disowned Qiushui, saying he wasn’t part of the Xiao family anymore. Moments later, at the summit, he bragged about Qiushui’s achievements as if they were family victories. Hypocrisy much?

And when Qiushui refused to hand over the Change Sword, Yiren threw a toddler-level tantrum—literally smashing things and yelling “I don’t have a little brother like you!” I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or roll my eyes.

But ironically, Yiren’s frustrating presence makes the drama more entertaining. Sometimes it’s the characters we dislike most who bring the most drama to the screen.

Final Thoughts

The Journey of Legend is shaping up to be a drama with heart, humor, and plenty of action. While there are a few questionable story choices, I’m hooked and curious to see how the Xiao family storyline, the Huanhua Sect challenges, and the system punishments all play out.

We’re not even at the peak of the story yet, so there’s still a lot to look forward to. I’ll likely post a full review either here on the blog or on my YouTube channel once the series wraps up.

Until then, let me know your thoughts: