Li Xian stars in new revenge drama ‘I Am Not a Master’

The new Republic of China era drama, ‘I Am Not a Master’, starring Li Xian and Li Yitong, has drawn mixed reactions following its release on Tencent. The series follows Shangguan Chengming (Li Xian), a man whose family is destroyed by a fraudulent organization known as the ‘Tianxiang Sect’ through a series of orchestrated supernatural predictions and scams.

To seek revenge, Chengming studies deceptive arts under his mentor, Kim Bu Huan (Wu Gang), to infiltrate the organization and expose their crimes. While some viewers have praised the unique plot and high initial ratings on Tencent, others have criticized the production. Common complaints include a lack of authentic period atmosphere, unnatural dialogue, and a slow-paced script that fails to deliver the expected tension in its psychological battles.