Title

The title translated to English is not exactly correct. Xiao Au literally means to laugh at and Jiang Hu means the Pugilist/Martial Art world. So if it’s translated as Mocking the Martial Art World will sounds better. But my mandarin is very limited, I draw the above conclusion after talking with my dad and consult with the dictionary so we stick with the common title. I will referred it as XAJH though.

Synopsis (and spoiler)

The title has describes the story pretty well. The fight between the so-called good and bad sect. In the story the prominent good sects are: 5 Shan: SongShan, HuaShan, HengShan Northern, HengShan Southern and TaiShan; Shaolin and Wu Dang. Also another sect call QingChen Sword school which for me feel more like a bad sect that a good one, but somehow classified as a good sect (the leader using demon in his martial art). As for the main bad sect is Sun Moon Sect (BengKauw or Ming Jiao). The fight also got blurred with actions and events that happening within the sects.

However, the story was start because two person from different background has develop the same interest in music. They even manage to make a new arrangement together. Ou Yang from SM Sect and Liu Zheng Feng from HengShan were befriend, together create a new music arrangement they called Xiao Au Jiang Hu. Unfortunately the wulin world especially the so-called good sects doesn’t approve their friendship.

From here the story rolling to LHC, the main character. The reason is because he is such a relaxed and easy going person. He befriend with anyone, like Tian Bu Guang the infamous rapist, Xian Wen Tian from Sun Moon Sect and inherit XAJH music arrangement from Ou Yang and Liu Zheng Feng. He also later fall in love to Sheng Gu, the Holy Maiden of Sun and Moon Sect.

LHC suffered defame from his own teacher because at one stage people were saying that his teacher, Yue Bu Qun were less skilled than LHC. It’s happen because LHC inherit Du Qu Qiu Qian from his HuaShan Grandmaster Feng QingYang. The ironic part was, LHC was actually defending his teacher and his fellow student from HuaShan, but still blinded by envy Yu Bu Qun enraged and accused LHC mastering other sect martial art. Later in the story it was reveal who were the real culprit and how people got deceive by the most unsuspected person.

The story also telling the misfortune of Lin Ping Zhe whose family inherit Pi Xie Manual. This manual was after by everyone in the Wulin because it was the ultimate manual and whoever learn it will become number one. Little their know who ever want to learn this manual has to castrated themselves. (I wonder what happen if a girl learn this manual ) Lin Ping Zhe has to suffer so much but he was also consumed with revenge.

Within the Sun and Moon Sect they also has a conflict. Dong Fa Bu Bai was the leader of this sect and has defeated Ren Wo Xing 12 years ago, who was the leader earlier. Xiang Wen Tian who still loyal to Ren Wo Xing help him to get away and take revenge to Dong Fa Bu Bai. Dong Fa Bu Bai has mastered Kuihua Baodian. Kui Hua Bao Dian was actually the original Pi Xie Manual.

Mean while Song Shan leader, Zuo Leng Chan also launched his plan to unite the five Shan sects and plan to be the leader. He reason that they need to destroy Sun Moon Sect that’s why they need to unite. However, not everyone comply with his plan. Beside that he also has an ambition to defeat Wu Dang and Shaolin, two more prominent wuxia school.

Acting

Overall I would say 4.5 out 5 for most of the actors/actresses. Even for the antagonist character, they played their part perfectly. I especially amaze with the development of the character and how each cast developed it.

Special Effect

For me it’s almost perfect.

Verdict

Pretty obvious from the way I describe the series above that I’m so delighted with this series. I tried to watch other wuxia adaptation and some how the all seems cheap comparing with this XAJH. Even the new TLBB, LOCH, HSDS doesn’t seems quite to match this adaptation. The only burp from this series is I don’t understand Chinese if I do, I would enjoy this series much much much more. But with the help of my comrade and episode guides that I found at Yanie’s and Lingz website I was able to understand so much 4.75 out of 5