The opening week episodes parade enchanting costumes, stunning character visuals and a promising plot premise.
Who Rules the World highlights martial arts in a world split into seven sovereign nations and principalities. In particular, this series features Yang Yang as Feng Lan Xi/Hei Feng Xi.
He is a handsome and strong martial artist who established his own intelligence group, the Fountain Abode. He is known to be a cunning yet indifferent man. Meanwhile, Zhao Lusi portrays the strong and beautiful female martial artist master, Bai Feng Xi, regarded as “As beautiful as she is lethal”.
They are engaged in a seemingly endless competition to prove who is stronger in the martial arts world. However, there is more to their characters than what this series lets on at first.
Nathan Llantos watches “Who Rules the World” on WeTV
Opening Week Ratings:
Who Rules the World Episode 1 & 2 Highlights
The first episode starts by showing a man rushing up the long stairs and entering a palace gate. And as he greets the emperor, it is then revealed that he is the crown prince of the Dadong empire. Agitated and shaken, he politely asks his father, the emperor, if it is true that the empyrean token is lost.
In detail, the token in question is a sacred relic that symbolizes the right of the holder to rule the world. The world in this story is divided into seven. The Dadong empire is the one blessed by the heavens with the empyrean token.
Meanwhile, the six states are the vassals of the kingdom. Although that may be true, the six states comprise principalities and sovereign nations governed by monarchs and renowned sectors and families.
The Hunt Begins
Given that whoever possesses the empyrean token is deemed the rightful ruler of the world, the six states are rushing to find it. Some driven by greed, the hunt for the lost relic and war declamations rise.
As the retainers and soldiers of the different states engage in bloody combat, the resting heroine Bai Feng Xi was disrupted and gets involved. Consequently, as the tales tell, usually, wherever Bai Feng Xi is, Hei Feng Xi follows suit.
Bai Feng Xi helps the wounded General Yang Yingzhou. She takes him into a cave to help him recuperate. Unfortunately, his wounds are fatal, and he needs medicine.
For that reason, Bai Feng Xi goes to the Han family’s domain to retrieve the medicines. Unaware that Hei Feng Xi monitors her moves, she crashes the 60th birthday party of the Head of the Han family.
Reunions & Ruckus
Displeased at the appearance of Bai Feng Xi at his party, the Head of the Han family commands his guards and guests to subdue the heroine. However, their efforts are for naught because the famed Bai Feng Xi exhibits her strength and martial arts prowess.
Eventually, all of the men at the party are beaten to a pulp. But Head Han still does not allow Bai Feng Xi to get the Buddha pills and powder she needs.
Moreover, just when the conversation between the two gets heated, Hei Feng Xi arrives. Head Han tells him why he is irked with the heroine. Apparently, this is not the first time Bai Feng Xi rummaged his domain to steal medicine.
The heroine retorts stating she did it to save people. Thus, it should be considered merit under the Han family rather than robbery. Subsequently, Hei Feng Xi apologizes on her behalf and even gives Head Han a treasure worth 10,000 gold to appease him.
For that reason, Bai Feng Xi is allowed to take the medicine she needs, and she goes back to the mountain to save Yang Yingzhou, only to find out that he has already left.
The Ambush on the Mountain
Bai Feng Xi found Yang Yingzhou and gave him the medicines she got. Not long after their rendezvous, the huntsmen pursuing the empyrean token have located them again. Hence, the heroine and Yingzhou engaged once more in close combat.
As a result, they both sustained injuries. An arrow shot Yingzhou, which weakened him further. on the other hand, in an attempt to take the empyrean token away from the enemies, Bai Feng Xi held the relic in her palm.
Yingzhou was alerted, and he placed it back inside the casement of a silver dagger. Unfortunately, the token is poisonous, and the toxins have already entered Bai Feng Xi’s body.
On top of that, they only have two Buddha pills left which are not sufficient to flush away the poison. Afterwards, the two head back to the cave in the mountain.
However, the attackers are still in pursuit of them. Wanting to protect the heroine, Yingzhou asks Bai Feng Xi to let him lure the attackers away. Additionally, he asked her for a favor to deliver the relic to the state of Jizhou.
Unable to move because of the poison, Bai Feng Xi had no choice as the wounded Yingzhou went out to fight the attackers on his own and met his demise.
A Close Call
Despite the poison contaminating her body, the heroine mustered her strength to go out and look for Yingzhou. After realizing that he is dead, she is attacked by another set of enemies. This time they claimed to be members of the Soultaker sector. To illustrate, these attackers were wearing black clothing, and their faces were hidden. Moreover, they use curved blades and are ruthless.
Like a lioness confronted by a pack of hyenas, Bai Feng Xi fights them with her utmost strength. But despite her efforts, the poison and wounds are taking a toll on her body. She fell on the cliff but was saved by Hei Feng Xi, who arrived just in time.
And so relieved as she may be, the heroine started to suspect what the leader of the fountain abode was after. She knew all too well that Feng Xi is not the type of person who engages in something without benefits.
Alarmed that he constantly saves her in the nick of time, Bai Feng Xi is irked that Hei Feng Xi involves himself in her matters.
The Crown Prince of Jizhou and The Counterfeit Token
After rescuing Bai Feng Xi, Hei Feng Xi checks the relic brought by the deceased General. Eventually, he concludes that the empyrean token Yang Yingzhou lost his life for is a fake. What is more, the news of the battle on the mountain has reached the ears of Jizhou’s crown prince.
Saddened by the death of their general, Crown Prince Huang Chao heads to Mount Xuan himself to retrieve the General’s body. Unbeknown to him that the token was a counterfeit, he and his close attendants search for the esteemed heroine Bai Feng Xi.
Meanwhile, Bai Feng Xi awakens and is greeted by Hei Feng Xi, stating he could have saved the General. He meant that if only Bai Feng Xi had notified him earlier, he would have been able to save Yang Yinzhou. On that note, Bai Feng Xi answered, saying she believed Hei Feng Xi would have taken the chance to steal the empyrean token.
Disappointed but not surprised, Hei Feng Xi, who has known Bai Feng Xi for almost a decade now, said their misunderstandings are deep-rooted. Consequently, Bai Feng Xi prod further as to why he followed her and why he did not take the token. Instead, he waited for her to wake up to converse with her.
To this, Hei Feng Xi jested that they have a policy that each question answered costs 1,000 silver leaves in his intelligence group. The heroine soon realizes that the token is fake.
Treacherous Series of Murder
Not long after the attack at Mount Xuan, Bei Feng Xi learns about the tragedy that befalls the Han family. In detail, the whole clan was slaughtered overnight, and there were no declared survivors.
Besides that, Hei Feng Xi is also going to the Han domain. There the two Fengxis meet again.Bai Feng Xi discusses her recent combat with the Soultaker sect and tells Hei Feng Xi she suspects the sector as the culprit.
Likewise, they debated the missing boy, the youngest in the Han clan, whose body is nowhere to be found.
After searching the burnt house of the Hans, Bai Feng Xi encounters a peculiar ceramic and tinkers with it. She then discovers a hidden room where the young Han was anxiously hiding.
Moreover, she and Hei Feng Xi noticed the brown ledger that the child was fiercely clinging to. They immediately knew the Han clan’s medicine secret was to make the renowned and expensive Buddha pills.
Thus, the two conclude that the Soultaker sector must have attacked the Hans to get their hands on the ledger.
An Unexpected Joint Venture
After rescuing Han Pu, Bai Feng Xi dedicated herself to helping the child recuperate. The boy is now an orphan, and his family’s killer is still on the loose.
Meanwhile, Hei Feng Xi, who was on his way into the forest, was attacked by the Soultaker sector. He immediately knew that Bai Feng Xi had used the plan he suggested against him.
Before the ambush, he had indicated to the heroine that the perpetrators would come to her if she announced that she had the ledger. Not only will it save her time to look for them, but it will also give her an advantage because she will be prepared for their arrival. The plan is indeed practical.
Nonetheless, it would risk Han Pu’s safety. Worried about the child, Bai Feng Xi decides to use the plan to lure the Soultaker Sect away from them. She believed that Black Foxy (what she calls Hei Feng Xi) was capable enough to defeat them even if they corner him.
Moreover, unbothered by the betrayal, Hei Feng Xi understood the heroine’s reasons. He still went to where Han Pu and Bai Feng Xi were to help them. They head to the roads together in search of the perpetrators.
On the way, the two Fengxis reminisced a bit about their past encounters and teased each other with snide remarks. They took Han Pu with them, and they ventured together to search for the empyrean token.
Misadventures and Detours at Yucheng
They head to Yucheng to figure out the involvement of the Shang Clan in the murder of the Han Family. In particular, Hei Feng Xi aims to lure the local tyrant, the Qi family, into his plan. While they were dining at a restaurant, it did not take long for his plan to work.
The boisterous young master of the Qi family approaches them. Hei Feng Xi knows that to achieve his plans of confronting the Shang family, he would need the cooperation of the Qis. And since he likes to have the upper hand, Hei Feng Xi made sure that the Qi family would play into what he had in store for them.
Who Rules the World Episode 1 & 2 Series Musings
A Penny For Some Thoughts
Indeed the storyline of Who Rules the World has promising potential. For instance, the action and mystery elements are well incorporated, and the cast lineup parades stunning visuals. Likewise, the production design and wardrobe designs for the characters are impeccable.
In particular, Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi look immaculate in their costumes. With that in mind, the series indeed has its charms. However, there are noticeable flaws that could bother and ruin the audience’s viewing experience.
It is not new to avid C-drama enthusiasts that some series with good plots have poor CGI. This series is one of those. Not just that, but the camera works feel more confusing and unpleasant to the eyes.
In detail, although the attempt is there to make the camera angles immersive, there is a tendency for the scenes to be so fast-paced and uncoordinated that viewers will have a hard time appreciating the action stunts.
Additional Two Cents for Some Sentiments
Moreover, the action stunts are perhaps not as compelling and thrilling compared to other series of the same genre. As a result, the scenes containing combat feel a bit off and outstretched.
More importantly, in the first episode, the way the leaders of the six states and the minor characters were presented was a bit abrupt. Thus, it could feel a bit disconcerting to distinguish who is who and which is which.
But although that may be true, the series still has redeeming factors. To cut it some slack, it does incite intrigue in its ways. Furthermore, it still deserves to be given a chance to unfold what it has in store. After a few moments of getting accustomed to it, the series will surely shine in its glory.
Watch Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi transform into martial artist masters in this Romance Wuxia C-drama Who Rules the World. Episodes are released every Mondays-Wednesdays only on WeTV.
Photos & Video : WeTV
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