Back by popular demand, I’m excited to share some fun facts and fascinating Sword and Fairy 1 (又见逍遥) trivia you may not have known! From deleted scenes to hidden references to the game’s franchise, these tidbits will give you a whole new appreciation for this latest adaptation.
Also see: Sword and Fairy 1: References to Chinese Paladin (2005) which contains more easter eggs!
1. The drama cuts Zhao Ling’er’s bathing scene
In the original story, Li Xiaoyao first meets Zhao Ling’er on Fairy Island while she’s taking a bath in a lotus pond. During a live stream, actress Yang Yutong, who plays Zhao Ling’er, shared a memory of filming a ‘bathing’ scene where she wears a white dress and emerges from the water. She admitted that it felt a bit strange to film, which might be why it didn’t make it to the final cut. Instead, we see a scene where Xiaoyao is gazing down at his own reflection in the pond, rather than at Ling’er.
The director later posted an image from the deleted scene on his Weibo, which matches Yang Yutong’s description of it.
This ties back to the original design of the promotional image for Paladin Legend, where Xiaoyao is depicted on the water’s surface, while Ling’er is beneath it. Xiaoyao’s wooden sword hovers above the water, while Ling’er’s Heavenly Snake Staff is submerged below the surface. Pretty interesting!
2. The director Yang Long is a big fan of XianJian and grew up playing the game
‘The Legend of Sword and Fairy ‘ holds a special place for director Yang Long—it was actually the very first PC game he ever played. On his Weibo, he shared a nostalgic story from his childhood: when his family bought their first computer, he was still in primary school. A friend took him to pick it out, and his mum only allowed him to play for two hours every Sunday. Whenever he got stuck in a maze, he’d run to the bookstore to read the guidebook. At the time, he dreamed of one day writing a XianJian novel. Little did he know, many years later, his dream would come true when he became a director and got the chance to adapt XianJian into a TV series.
It’s pretty amazing, right? You can absolutely feel the passion and authenticity in the series. It’s rare to see someone bring that kind of personal connection to a project, and it really shows in the attention to detail and the love for the XianJian world. You can tell Yang Long didn’t just want to adapt the game into a TV series; he wanted to honor it, to give it the depth and heart it deserved. That level of dedication definitely elevates the whole experience, and it makes it more than just a regular adaptation.
3. Li Xiaoyao’s Aunt reprises her role in this new adaptation
Veteran actress Yang Kun makes a special return in ‘Sword and Fairy 1‘ to reprise her role as Li Xiaoyao’s aunt, and she holds a unique place in the series—she’s the only actor from the 2005 Chinese Paladin drama to return to their original role. See all the other references and nods to Chinese Paladin (2005).
4. Ling’er makes a comment that Yiru would look really cute with bells
In episode 39, there’s a heartwarming moment where Ling’er is sewing dolls for Yiru. She says to Xiaoyao, “If we put these two bells on Yiru, won’t she look adorable?” This is actually a playful nod to Yiru’s character design in the XianJian game’s sequel, where she’s often depicted with little bells as part of her outfit. It’s a fun Easter egg for fans who recognize the reference! The creators definitely know how to slip in little details that connect the TV series to the games.
5. The story of Li Sansi adapts from the webcomic ‘Water Spirit Orb Robbery’
Much of the backstory introduced in the drama comes from the webcomic ‘水靈劫 Shui Ling Jie‘, which is considered canon. It explores how Li Sansi and Ge Qiaoling, the parents of Li Xiaoyao, came into possession of the Water Spirit Orb. You can read the webcomic here, however there’s no English translation.
6. One of Li Xiaoyao’s outfits is a nod to his character as Taoist Yipin in Chinese Paladin 5
In Chinese Paladin 5 (which takes place about 40 years after Sword and Fairy 1), Li Xiaoyao appears as a 58-year-old Taoist named “Yipin.” Here’s a look at his character design. Does this costume look familiar to you?
7. Jin Ba Ye is a character from the Chinese Paladin 2 game
Ever wondered who Jin Ba Ye is? He’s actually a character from Chinese Paladin 2. Jin Ba Ye, the Rat King, had been dead for a long time, but out of concern for his people, his spirit lingered to protect them. Over time, he transformed into a rat spirit. Eventually, he joins Yiru on her journey, helping her in battles along the way.
8. Taiwu is a character from Chinese Paladin 5
Taiwu, a senior disciple of Mt. Shu, is the one who leads the Seven-Star formation attack on Xiaoyao, Ling’er, and Yueru. He’s actually a character from Chinese Paladin 5. Later, Taiwu becomes the 28th headmaster of the Sect, taking over from Li Xiaoyao. Known for his strong sense of justice, Taiwu despises evil and is always ready to fight for what’s right. Looks like not much has changed from his younger self ;D
9. Gamers really wanted Ling’er to say her iconic line
In the game, when Ling’er awakens her Nuwa powers to fight the Prison King, she delivers an iconic line that the adaptation unfortunately omits. Fans were thrilled when Zhao Ling’er’s actress, Yang Yutong, fulfilled their request by recording the line during a live stream. This moment brought the fans’ wish to life and added a special touch to the character’s legacy. Since then, her recorded voice has appeared in multiple fan videos, even though the show uses a professionally dubbed voice.
“Taoism is Taoism, and evil is evil. I am me, and gods and Buddhas cannot decide my fate!”
10. The Dustless Sword did not belong to the Drunken Sword Immortal
The Dustless Sword is the strongest weapon in the game, and you can obtain it from a dungeon. In the TV drama, the Drunken Sword Immortal wields the weapon, eventually passing it on to Xiaoyao before he passes away. I think it’s really interesting how they made Li Xiaoyao’s wooden sword a replica of the Dustless Sword. It’s a clever detail that seamlessly ties his past and future together, and it’s a unique touch specific to the adaptation.
I hope you enjoyed these fascinating ‘Sword and Fairy 1‘ fun facts and trivia! If you’d love to see more behind-the-scenes insights and hidden details about the remake, don’t forget to leave a comment below. Feel free to share any of your own favourite Sword and Fairy 1 trivia too—we’d love to hear from you!
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