Returned Master: Story, Cast and Series Facts

Story and premise

On Chinese New Year's Eve, the entire household of the retired General Li is brutally slaughtered by a mysterious assailant. The youngest son, Li Jianwei, survives by a stroke of luck. Assuming a new identity, he infiltrates Ghost Valley, determined to exact revenge on those who destroyed his family. The valley's young heir, Chen Xiaoxi, is mischievous and unpredictable, yet gradually grows close to Li Jianwei, who tries every trick in the book to win his trust. Just when everything appears to be going according to plan, Li Jianwei begins to uncover disturbing secrets lurking behind the massacre. The supposed enemies are in fact the Zhongyong Army, once loyal soldiers branded as outlaws twenty years ago. The honor and reputation of the Li family may not be as spotless as believed. As loyalty and betrayal, good and evil are repeatedly turned on their heads, and the truth from two decades ago comes to light, Li Jianwei and Chen Xiaoxi must face not only their hidden pasts but also the weight of their fates. How will these two young men choose their paths when vengeance and identity collide?

Series details

• Title: Returned Master
• Format: Scripted
• Language: Chinese
• Genres: Drama
• Premiere date: 2025-07-16
• Final broadcast date listed: 2025-07-25
• Status in TVmaze: Ended
• Web channel listed by TVmaze: Tencent QQ
• Network country: China
• Typical episode runtime: 15 minutes
• TVMaze ID: 85496

Seasons in the TVmaze catalogue

• Season 1: premiered 2025-07-16; final listed air date 2025-07-25; episode order: 24.

Source and licence

Adapted from Returned Master on TVmaze. The synopsis is reproduced as plain text; catalogue facts, cast and season records are selected and reformatted. This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, following the TVmaze API licence. Network and web-channel credits identify the service listed in this source; they do not establish current streaming availability.