Introduction
Behind a missing case, there seemed to be countless dusty entanglements and mysteries. The Hunt is built around a ten-year-old serial murder scheme involving three old friends. It illustrates how past actions can have a devastating ripple effect, ultimately leading to deadly consequences a decade later.
The Hunt is produced by Daylight Entertainment company ( 正午阳光 Zhengwu Yangguang), one of the leading TV production teams in China, with a strong reputation for producing high-quality and popular dramas that have achieved both domestic and international success. At the time this article was published, it had a Douban score of 7.4/10. This rating is categorized into “a good to very good score” as a reflection of appreciation for quality production, acting, and storytelling from Chinese viewers.
The article title is taken from the native title of the drama/novel that translates to “life on the line” or “life hanging by a thread”. The phrase means being in a situation of great danger, where one’s life is at risk of death or serious harm.
Enjoy the review!
Drama Info
Drama title: The Hunt (Native title: 命悬一生 )
Alternative titles: Ming Xuan Yi Sheng
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Drama
Aired: Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
Episodes: 16 | Duration: 45 min.
Directors: Sun Mo Long ( 孙墨龙 ) and Shi Cheng Ye ( 史成业 )
Screenwriter: Lu Chun Wu ( 陆春吾 )
Adapted from the web novel "Yi Sheng Xuan Ming" (一生悬命) by Lu Chun Wu (陆春吾).
Where to read the English translation novel: ReadtheDrama
Where to watch: iQiyi
Trailer
Synopsis
Upon receiving a request from his friend Cao Xiaojun, Ni Xiangdong transports a wooden box to an abandoned cabin on a barren mountain. Xiangdong then discovers that the box contains Xiaojun’s body. Xiaojun’s wife Wu Ximei reports her husband missing to the police, while also alluding to everything being related to Xiangdong. However, there is something off with Ximei’s witness testimony… (Source: iQiyi)
Characters
Main Characters
Huang Xuan ( 黄轩 C) as Xu Qing Li
Xu Qingli was originally a low-income young man pursuing dreams in the city. He was accidentally involved in a murder and was forced to flee. Later, he forged his identity to restart his life.
While on the run, Xu Qingli was involved in more than ten years of entanglement with the trio of old friends.
His character experienced a transformation from kindness to depravity. One wrong step after another, fate’s tricks and self-destruction paved the way for Xu Qingli’s darkening.
Teresa Li / Li Geng Xi ( 李庚希 ) as Wu Xi Mei
She lost her father when she was young, her mother remarried, and left. Growing up in an environment where “little sister must be obedient, I am doing this for your own good”, she gradually lost her right to make her own choices.
After escaping from her hometown and working in a hair salon, she was once again in trouble because of her beautiful appearance. The gangsters Ni Xiangdong and Cao Xiaojun rescued her many times, and the three of them formed an indissoluble bond.
Supporting Characters
Meng Chao (Zhang Zhe Hua) – police officer
Cao Xiao Jun (Bai Yu Fan) – Wu Ximei’s husband
Ni Xiang Dong (Yin Fang) – Cao Xiaojun’s friend
Tian Bao Zhen (Jiang Pei Yao) – Xu Qingli’s ex girlfriend
Tong Hao (Xu Ao Jun) – police rookie
Character Relationship Chart
Above Wu Ximei is her son Cao Tianbao.
Below Wu Ximei is her ex-husband Guo Adi.
Above Tian Baozhen is her fiance, Bao Desheng.
On the right side (with a grey background), besides Meng Chao and Tong Hao, are the other police officers.
My Rating
My rating for this drama was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this drama has additional scores of:
1.0 for the complex plot that tricks the audience (and the police).
1.0 for the acting of Huang Xuan, Li Geng Xi, and Bai Yu Fan
1.0 for the dark and somber choreography, realistic makeup that makes people look different over a time gap and weariness of life.
My final rating was 9.0/10
I detailed my explanation as to why I gave such additional scores in the Review Section below.
Review
Production
As I mentioned in the Introduction, The Hunt is produced by the well-regarded company Daylight Entertainment. The production company once again proved its trustworthy existence in terms of characterization, human nature depiction, and story depth.
With the production company comes its masterful director, Sun Molong, who also directed the popular 2022 Reset and the upcoming Nirvana In Fire 3, among other works.
Chinese audiences who read the original novel stated that the novel is very good. The adaptation doesn’t whitewash the criminals. The final ending can only be said to be deserved.
The screenwriter, Lu Chunwu, is the original author, who guarantees the novel’s suppressed hysteria and the exhaustion of running for life on the road to ruin to the greatest extent.
Despite the screenwriter’s deep understanding of the source material, which led to a faithful and authentic screen version, there are drastic differences between the prose versus the visual storytelling. Adapting requires translating internal thoughts to visual cues, a more structured and active plot, and a willingness to prioritize cinematic needs over literary detail. In addition, Lu Chunwu had to insert the CCP agenda for crime dramas, for example: the positive portrayal of the law enforcement, and that the Chinese legal system is the only thing standing between order and chaos.
See how Lu Chunwu changed the ending for some characters in the spoiler below
In the novel, Wu Ximei committed suicide. In the drama, she went to jail. In the novel, Meng Chao died in the line of duty. In the drama, Meng Chao was in a coma but then woke up.
Story and Plot
The story is deep and dark, and the plot is tense and suspenseful. The core itself is actually not complex; crime drama lovers might find the main crime quite simple, and the truth of the mystery can be guessed halfway through the drama. Although the story is no longer suspenseful for a mystery buff, the process of digging into the psychology of behavior and motivation of the characters is interesting. The excellent point in this drama lies in the display of the relationship and life of several characters, and it even plays a small trick on one of the characters.
Story
The whole story is filled with the indelible background color of a rough life, gray, cold, and desolate. How great is the potential of human endurance and determination? And how complex are the twists and turns of life? A few wrong steps may lead to a quagmire and fall into guilt. “No one has taught us, and we can’t tell what is black, white, or gray. No matter what road it is, it is just to make money, make a living, and want to live.”
Plot
Beginning
The plot centers on a suspenseful and complex case, typical of the “Light On” series from iQIYI. Good initial pacing, after just a few episodes, the story is promising. Its brisk and engaging pace grabs attention from the start.
Middle
As the law enforcement relentlessly determines to uncover long-buried crimes, false confessions and inconsistent testimony create a web of misleading information that complicates the investigation. The way characters use deception to protect themselves or frame others causes the police, and us viewers, to question everything. It’s a psychological game between characters. The plot setting alone might make viewers feel overloaded. The standard of suspense dramas is the multi-timeline flashbacks, and the transformation of the police and the audience’s perspectives to put everything together.
As the story progresses, the viewers feel more of the cruelty of the hand of fate and the insurmountable self-destruction in human nature. For example, after the Male Led watched a murder for a few minutes, why didn’t he call the police? Even if he wanted to, but based on what happened in his past, do you think he dares to?
Ending
Although the pace is not draggy, in my opinion, it would be perfect if it were compressed to 12 episodes. If this is not a Chinese crime drama with propaganda, the police scenes can be streamlined. The police can act as the auxiliary function of the camera, and there is no need to add so many unnecessary dramatic scenes, for example, the final confession, emotional persuasion, and the return of Tian Baozhen.
Characterization and Acting
In this drama, the performances are a strong point. The central mystery is fueled by hidden motives. Deep-seated secrets and personal agendas drive characters to desperate and criminal acts. Moral ambiguity forces the audience to question who is truly innocent or guilty, and suggests that every character has a complex backstory.
The superb acting skills of the actors are full of tension, mainly Huang Zhuan, Li Geng Xi, and Bai Yu Fan. In contrast, the acting skills of the two policemen are too far behind the three leading actors.
Xu Qingli / Huang Zhuan
Huang Xuan’s acting is excellent, switching between the two personalities easily, while maintaining the gradual destruction of Xu Qingli.
The incongruity of Huang Xuan’s facial expressions as Xu Qingli playing another character is just right. It is naturally incongruous, awkward, and has a sense of dark humor. His acting in the last episodes is heartbreaking and deserves an award.
Huang Zhuan grasped all kinds of Xu Qingli’s stage very well; the introvertedness of the young Xu Qingli, the uninhibitedness of the little gangster, and the fierceness when he was forced to a dead end. His transformation from honest to evil is distinct.
Wu Xi Mei / Li Geng Xi
Li Gengxi’s role contrast from victim to avenger is also very dramatic.
It’s almost impossible to survive if you put yourself in the shoes of Wu Ximei. Everyone tells her to be obedient, but what she gets in return is extreme humiliation and beatings. When she lives again, people full of love come to her, but behind their smiling faces are repeated injuries. She escapes again, but it is also a late trial and debt repayment
When Ni Xiangdong suddenly showed up after a decade, the wariness and unease in Wu Ximei’s eyes were so real that it was hard to believe Li Gengxi was acting. Also, her sincerity in celebrating Xu Qingli’s birthday was also real. Li Gengxi’s acting as Wu Ximei with a complex character was convincing.
Cao Xiao Jun / Bai Yu Fan
Cao Xiaojun is the kind of person who is ruthless and doesn’t talk much. He usually talks little, but he really steps up when something happens. Falling in love with Xiao Jun is completely human nature. Who wouldn’t love a puppy who is down-to-earth, hardworking, and can be trusted, and who silently guards you? He is kind by nature, but has lived for others his whole life. Those years have been too painful, too bitter, too difficult.
Cao Xiaojun has always had a sense of loneliness. After watching the update, I suddenly realized that every time Cao Xiaojun looked at Xu Qingli with melancholy eyes, he was looking for Ni Xiangdong’s figure thru Xu Qingli.
Ni Xiang Dong / Yin Fang
Ni Xiangdong has very much of a very youthful feel, wild and carefree, and Yin Fang played this role so well that there was no trace of performance. It felt like he was the character himself.
Ni Xiangdong ,who was loyal and good-looking, rotted away bit by bit, fighting, taking drugs, killing people… There are traces of Ni Xiangdong’s depravity, acted well by Yin Fang.
Tian Bao Zhen / Jiang Pei Yao
Tian Baozhen stays outside the circle of chaos. I think her character is only a control group, with a purpose to provide a benchmark for comparison to the only female protagonist in this drama, Wu Ximei. The obedient Wu Ximei versus the disobedient Tian Baozhen. The female mirror comparison between Wu Ximei and Tian Baozhen is interesting. The choices people make must be influenced by the environment, personality, and cognition. Baozhen wanted to study, change her fate, and rely on herself. In that era, studying could still change one’s fate, and poor families could still produce honorable children. She carved out a path for herself, and the drama ultimately felt a glimmer of sunrise and hope in the turbulent sea.
Visuals
The director’s shots are very skillful! The large number of medium and close-up shots have a strong cinematic effect and are well matched with the actors’ performances.
For example, the first marriage of Wu Ximei is shot like a horror film. Everyone has a happy smile on their face, only the bride looks numb and lifeless. The tragedy of one person is the carnival of a group of people.
The cinematography depicts poverty and weariness of life through deliberate choices in color, lighting, framing, and camera movement that evoke a somber, restrictive, and often desperate mood.
Original Soundtrack
The music is excellent, and every OST song is just right. You can listen to the full album from a fansubber here.
The theme song, 悬月 or “Hanging Moon”, is co-written by the leading actress Li Gengxi and Hui Minyao, and sung by Li Gengxi. A beautifully evocative piece — it sounds like a dreamlike, emotional song. The singer conveys a sense of nostalgia, struggle, and longing for release. She is caught between wanting to hold on to the sweet memories of the past and needing to move forward to face the truth and reality.
Conclusion
Greed and jealousy are destructive forces. While the specific catalyst for the killings in The Hunt is complex, the underlying motives likely revolve around greed, betrayal, and jealousy, as exemplified by the inconsistencies in the central relationship between the old friends and the frantic efforts to hide the truth.
No secret can stay buried forever. In The Hunt, a ten-year-old case resurfaces, demonstrating that unresolved issues from the past will inevitably demand resolution.
Fate is a circle; the people you should meet will meet again, the sins you should face cannot be escaped, and everyone must deal with what they have done.
Spoiler
In a nutshell, what is the story? (MAJOR SPOILER!)
Wu Ximei and Cao Xiaojun killed Ni Xiangdong. Xu Qingli found Xiangdong’s ID card and took his identity. Somehow, as Xiangdong, he met Ximei and Xiaojun.
What is the ending?
It’s hard to determine because it’s a crime drama. I can say it’s a bittersweet ending. Bitter because of what the main characters have gone through, but sweet because the main crime and other crimes are resolved.
How does it end?
The bad guys are brought to justice and punished by the law or by nature (death).
Who went to jail?
Xu Qingli and Wu Ximei.
Who died?
From the featured image/drama poster: Cao Xiaojun and Ni Xiangdong. There are also other murder victims.
