The Dynamic Duo and their Friends.

The story is set in Jingyun Reign in the Tang Dynasty. The gorgeous Tang Dynasty is like a mirror: one side is false, shows peace and prosperity while on the other side ghosts are everywhere.

One of the MOST INTERESTING aspects of this show was the working relationship between Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng(reminiscent of Sherlock and Watson). Su Wu Ming is the brains of the operation and Lu Ling Feng the brawns. Though later Lu Ling Feng becomes more attuned to all aspects of cases.

* Su Wu Ming is often sarcastic and resorts to manipulating people to get results, he has great deduction ability and uses his foresight to solve the problems. Chicken Fed(Mr.Fei)in his first meeting rightly pegged Su Wu Ming, he looked mean and cunning, quite untrustworthy.

*With Lu Ling Feng, what you see is what you get. He is the most honest, upright, rules following General of the Imperial guards. In their first meeting, Chicken Fed(Mr.Fei) pegged Lu Ling Feng as good-looking and righteous, who would keep his promise.

We see these two officials caught in a power struggle between The Crown Prince and the Eldest princess of Tang(Crown Prince's aunt) . Su Wuming and Lu Ling Feng have to soothe the ruffled feathers of the royals while trying to seek justice and solve bizarre cases.

*Another issue highlighted in this series is the struggle of common people. For Common people what matters the most is living their daily life peacefully, they do not care about the power struggle between the rulers. The ruler who gives importance to their welfare and ensures they are provided with basic necessities is the ruler they would choose.

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Episode 1 to 5 - Chang'an black tea and missing brides

Su Wu Ming(Yang Zhi Gang) Sheriff of Chang'an County, the discipline of great Detective Di Renjie, is of the opinion that there are no ghosts and no demons in this world Then who or what is responsible for the cases of missing brides of chang'an and what do all these disappearances have to do with Chang'an black tea that is in rage and so much in demand that there is a black market for it, even Her Highness drinks it. After drinking this tea the elderly will feel refreshed and their physique will stretch after drinking it. After young people drink it, their yangqi will overflow and they will have infinite energy. It is said if someone drinks it often, he can even reach the fairyland and dance with the deity.

Sheriff Su Wu Ming a replacement for the recently deceased Sheriff Wu Daqi, has stumbled upon a strange case. Since last one year, every month one bride goes missing and corresponding the missing brides' cases the price of the infamous expensive hard to find Chang'an black tea's price is increasing every month. Strange deaths are associated with the drinkers of the tea. Sheriff Su suspects that there is a prohibited ingredient mixed in the tea causing people to hallucinate and then become mad due to excessive addiction, leading to their premature death.

Sherif Su Wu Ming teamed up with General Lu Ling Feng(Yang Xu Wen) of Jinwu guards who also wanted to be the disciple of Detective Di but was rejected whereas sheriff Su Wu Ming was a disciple of Detective Di. Lu Ling Feng holds a mild grudge against Sheriff Su at the beginning. Slowly both people with opposing temperament and different working methods merge their efforts to solve the cases. Sheriff Su has been assigned the case of missing brides, in the first few episodes only four dead bodies have been discovered the brides dead bodies had been kept in four directions like a ritual, Sheriff Su from the private notes kept by Lu Ling Feng of the missing brides deducts that rest of the eight bodies of other missing brides are hidden in strategic places. Lu Ling Feng is assigned the case of the mysterious Chang'an black tea by the crown prince himself who instructs Lu Ling Feng to assist the Capital Tea Alliance to investigate the case however as the prince doesn't issue a written order, Lu Ling Feng has to investigate this alone without the support of imperial guards. Also there is a strange mystery surrounding the deceased General Xiao, fiance of Miss Xijun, the daughter of Pei Jian, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of personnel. General Xiao Bozhao died on a battlefield but Miss Xijun insist on marrying him and the picture she has drawn of a General Xiao is actually a portrait of General Lu Ling Feng.

The killer killed the bride Dou Cong and stuffed her body with spices so that the body would not decay for days, later the spice was identified as Soul Returning Incense by Chicken Fed. Answer to this could be obtained in The Ghost Market, two people seem to be behind these mysteries, one is a masked person addressed as Immortal Venerable, wearing the mask of Fang Xian God and the other person, face and form changing masked, omnipotent Yin Shilang/Lady Shiyi. Yin Shilang claims to be a dead man using Soul Returning Incense to prevent his body from decaying. It was believed that Yin Shilang became immortal a few days ago.

After the Lu Ling Feng is asked to handle the black tea cases without imperial guards, Su Wu Ming cleverly uses greed for more money to convince the 19 constables of Chang'an county to help General Lu. Chicken Fed, an eccentric, poor, chicken stealing brilliant doctor, reveals that the backyard of government office of the West market have some bizarre herbs growing. It was later discovered that flowers for making Soul Returning Incense are grown in that backyard. Su Wu Ming also deduces that the prohibited ingredient in Chang'an black tea was Western Magic Grass.The toxic Western Magic Grass/Hades Grass has been listed Prohibited since Sui dynasty. Lu Ling Feng breaks into three isolated suspicious yards in Chang'an and discovers Western Magic Grass growing there.

The link to the missing brides and Chang'an black tea was, All the brides disappeared at the beginning Or end of the month, while every new batch of the tea was released during the third and fifth day of the month. It suggests the two cases are related.

::::::::::The riddles presented to the viewers are:::::::
1.why are the brides being murdered?
2.who is behind the distribution of Chang'an black tea?
3.what is the real identity of Immortal Venerable and Yin Shilang/Lady Shiyi?


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Episode 6 to 8- Deserted Gantang post mystery

No good deed goes unpunished. Caught in a power struggle between the eldest princess and the crown prince both Su Wuming and Lu Ling Feng suffer . Lu Ling Feng is ordered to be flogged 30 times by the crown prince, his house and lands are confiscated, he is expelled from chang'an. Su Wuming is appointed as the military commander of Nanzhou by her highness and ordered to walk all the way to his post and think carefully. Lu Ling Feng becomes personal staff of Su Wuming and they continue their journey to Nanzhou on foot. They come across a deserted government Gantang post, only a corvee is staying there, Liu Shiba. He seems to be hiding many things and warns these two not to wander around at night as there are ghosts in other rooms. (It was supposed to be scary and mysterious but I couldn't stop laughing at the sheer number of people who wandered into that deserted government post in one single night???)

* who is Liu Shiba? Why is he alone at this deserted post?
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Episode 9 to 13 Four scholars of Nanzhou

The day Su Wuming arrived with Lu Lung Feng, Pei xijun and Xue huan to Nanzhou, Su Wuming's friend died and his funeral procession was underway. Su Wuming's friend Yuanfu was one of the four renowned scholars of Nanzhou, soon after that, another scholar, Lu Gongfu succumbs to death.. Is it coincidence or conspiracy.. What does it have to do with the famous painting of the stone bridge and stolen Guqin?
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Episode 13 &14 - Back to Gantang post.

Who is Liu Shiba? The question was unanswered the previous time, all the events precipitated. Circumstances made Su Wuming ans Lu Ling Feng leave the post immediately after they had apprehended Liu Shiba. Suddenly Lu Ling Feng realises in his dreams that he had missed some important clue, so he along with Su Wuming after disguising themselves go back to the deserted Gantang post. Upon knocking the door of the Gantang post,the person who opens it is Liu Shiba.. Why is Liu Shiba back at the post? What clues did these two miss the first time around?
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Episode 14 to 18- scholar Dugu Xiashu hallucinates

Dugu, the scholar preparing for the exam on one rainy day, through a hole in the window sees his wife having an affair with his friend, he throws his books on their heads and runs away. He plans to commit suicide by jumping in a well, suddenly he blackouts and a farmer passing by the well asks him why he isn't using his umbrella to cover himself, at least he should cover the books. Hadn't Dugu thrown the books at his wife and his friend? Dugu's friend, Liu Youqiu is killed.. Where is his wife, Qinghong? What is happening to Dugu?

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Episode 18 to 21 - Ju County's new sheriff is Lu Ling Feng

Lu Ling Feng is appointed as the new sheriff of Ju County. There is a corpse chopping case from 40 years ago that is still unsolved. A woman named Guan Zijun's body was dismembered 40 years ago. Twelve women have been raped and killed recently, then they were decapitated. Lu Ling Feng accepts the challenge to solve the case in seven days. Who is the white haired ghost? Is the house rented by Lu Ling Feng, Hall of Life really haunted? What is the secret of the backyard of the Hall of Life? Who or what is causing the mysterious headache that most of the people in Ju County are suffering from?

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Episode 22 to 26 - Tuo God's wine.

Lu Ling Feng after being dismissed again by imperial decree, leaves the post of sheriff of Ju County. Lu Ling Feng gets impeached and dismissed while Su WuMing gets a promotion. (someone powerful is using these two people to accomplish their personal agenda). Su Wuming, is promoted to be the military commander of Ninghu, it is a prosperous place located South of Chang Jiang River . Su Wuming tells the legend of Tuo, ancient people say that when crossing the rivers and lakes one must not leave his or her blood on bushes.Otherwise once it is licked by Tuo living in the water one will be possessed by the soul of Tuo and they will be doomed. Tul means alligator. There are two groups in Ninghu, one who wants to burn down the temple of evil God, Lu Yong with his accomplices. Another group led by chief Shen, who wants to generate fear in hearts of people in the name of Tuo God. Everything in Ninghu is controlled by the worshippers of Tuo God. There are many superstitions stories as to how Tuo God would punish non believers. Everyone is forced to worship Tuo God. People believe, Tuo God who is alive meets his worshippers from behind the curtain every year on the 3rd of March (double third festival) , the day of God's birthday he shows his body which is several feet high. Is administrator of Ninghu, Gu Wenbin corrupt or just a coward? Is Prefectural Governor Li Yu really dead? What is the Governor's daughter, Yingtao's role in the events? What is the list of Tuo's worshippers that is Circulating? Do people actually see Tuo God on 3rd March every year?
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Episode 27 to 31- Deadly Face Flower

Su Wuming has received an order from imperial Court to go to Luoyang immediately. A letter had been received from prefectural governor of Luozhou, who sent someone from Dongdu. Su Wuming thinks it is weird to receive a letter from the Governor in the name of imperial Court so he decides to go to Dongdu immediately. Su Wuming and Lu Ling Feng are getting more involved in the political struggle between the eldest princess and crown prince. The eldest princess keeps on promoting Su Wuming but Su Wuming thinks for the stability of their dynasty, they should support the crown prince. Su Wuming is informally appointed as the administrator of Luozhou, he refuses to accept the position because he is not given a formal appointment. However he decides to accept the case for which he had been summoned by the princess there. All women are applying a new rouge, face flower for beautifying. It is said once the flower is soaked and applied on the face, it melts into skin. However after 81 days instead of transforming the women into beauties, it is burning their cheek flesh. Even the princess has used it and if the culprit is not found in time to get an antidote, the princess also may suffer the same consequence as other women. The Benevolent side of the princess is revealed. What is the connection between paradise inn and the face flower? What is the mystery of Lu Ling Feng's childhood?

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Episode 32 to 36 - Magicians and The Sky Scraping Tower of chang'an

The Emperor is going hold the completion ceremony of the new sky-scraping tower of Chang'an that has taken 40 years to be completed during the mid-autumn festival. It has a total of 36 floors, allusion to Chinese myth of heaven. 3 floors in the underground and 33 floors above the ground. A magic show will be presented. The emperor will invite all officials, envoy of different countries and the people of Chang'an will enjoy the magic show together. An arrow shooting wooden bird that seems to be the creation of magican Sass seems to threaten the peace. Sass wants to settle score with the court, he is a magician as well as a killer. Where is Sass hidden? What is the real identity of the author of The Tales of Sass, a banned book? Will Sass come to take away Helan Xue? Who is the real mastermind?

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Overall: A good mystery series with interesting protagonists and short arcs of mysterious events having elements of the supernatural but at the end there is a logical explanation for all events. Even better is the revelation of mastermind at the end... I would never have thought that person was responsible. Must Watch.