WARNING: Beside the film, additional spoilers from The Episode of Sha Wu Sheng novel will also be present, please beware if you’re not caught up with the novel. Various tropes here contains major plot spoilers! If you are also planning to watch the film, we strongly urge you to refrain from lifting spoiler tags.
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The Episode of Sha Wu Sheng
Sha Wu Sheng
Name: 殺無生 Shā Wú Shēng (ZH) / Setsu Mu Shou (JA) / Eradicator of Life (EN)
Title: 鳴鳳決殺 Míng Fèng Jué Shā (ZH) / Meihou Kessatsu (JA) / Screaming Phoenix Killer (EN)note
Discipline / Position: Dual Sword Assassin
Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (JA)
A professional assassin hired to ensure the safety of the notorious thief Lin Xue Ya.
For more insight, see Sha Wu Sheng.
- All for Nothing: He thought entering the Sword Art Assembly would help redeem himself and reconcile his teacher, but it was all a trap set by Lin Xue Ya. This only makes his situation worse after Lin Xue Ya framed him for foul play and hiring the archer for injured/killed the other participants, no one will believe him anymore.
- Abusive Parents: His father wasn't intended to be one at the first place, but Sha Wu Sheng's birth pushed a downward domino effect so horrifically, he eventually became this way to Sha Wu Sheng.
- Accidental Murder: He unintentionally killed his former master, Tie Di Xian.
- Affectionate Nickname: He calls Lin Xue Ya "Gale", shorthand for his art name "Enigmatic Gale". According to Lin Xue Ya, Sha Wu Sheng used to call him by "Hey, You!" for about 3 years to reach this current state of name-calling.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: Sha Wu Sheng was on his 3rd year hired under Lin Xue Ya, and understood he is a notorious thief with a bad reputation. But he doesn't know Lin Xue Ya's true target is Sha Wu Sheng himself, (and by extension,) Tie Di Xian.
- Cool Mask: In the novel, Sha Wu Sheng recalled his wired mask was originally a cast to set his entire fractured skull back into place to heal his injury caused by his birth father. Since he worn it since birth, this became his security item. As he healed, and grew out of it, he fashioned it into a facial accessory to wear everyday.
- Despair Event Horizon: The moment when Lin Xue Ya reveals his true intentions to him.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: He has a scar on his left side of his forehead which he received when he was an infant after his father tried to kill him. It is hardly noticeable since his bangs conceal it.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: He doesn’t want to be feared or hated by anyone he encounters for working as an assassin. His inner monologue revealed he was sincere with the above intentions, and was conflicted on how to live with normal civilians peacefullly if he were to continue this type of career. So he’s shown to have thoughts of quitting on being an assassin to live a normal life, or at least, use his talents under a brighter light if this were to continue to damage people’s impression of him. And Lin Xue Ya took this chance away from him.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: The reason why Sha Wu Sheng is talkative despite his cold demeanor was that he is a man who truly wanted to socialize with people. His anti-socialness was mainly the result from working as an assassin; as people were too afraid to befriend him, he himself became hesitant to open up his deeper feelings with others. Lin Xue Ya was the first person to approach him in a friendly matter.
- Meaningful Name: As scary as his name implies on the outside, the real horror was by how he got his name to begin with. It turns out this name was given by his father as a curse (and note) begging Tie Di Xian to "slaughter his son" for him.
- His art name on the other hand, was originally intended to be a name with the positive aspect of "only ending someone's life when he has no other choice." As "the phoenix rarely lets out his calls, it's only by when the phoenix performs a call that he makes an execution."
- Offing the Offspring: His father attempted to kill him at his birth due to a lingering superstition, but failed. Therefore, his father left him at the doorstep of Tie Di Xian's mansion leaving a note to "ask him to kill off his son for him."
- Parental Abandonment: His mother died while giving birth to him, while his father on the other hand, attempted to kill him due to superstition, but failed. Therefore, he left Sha Wu Sheng to Tie Di Xian.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After Sha Wu Sheng is betrayed by Lin Xue Ya, while blinded by rage, he uncontrollably and brutally slaughters every officer from the Sword Art tournament who gets in the way of killing Lin Xue Ya. After he fails to kill Lin Xue Ya, he makes a vow to kill anyone who knows him.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Honestly speaking, he doesn't have an ounce of bad in him to begin with. It was entirely his midwives' and father's fault for being superstitious upon his birth; where Sha Wu Sheng became the subject of suspicion for causing his mother to die upon his birth, leading to his midwives killing each other to avoid fault of his mother's death, resulting in his father to abandon him out of despair.
Lin Xue Ya
Important Note: Most of his characteristics are revealed in Season One, please list only the tropes fit for this part of the storyline.
Name: 凜雪鴉 Lǐn Xuě Yā (ZH) / Rin Setsu A (JA) / Austere Snow Crow (EN)
Title: 掠風竊塵 Lüè Fēng Qiè Chén (ZH) / Ryoufuu Setsujin (JA) / Enigmatic Gale (EN)note
Voiced by: Kosuke Toriumi (JA)
A beautiful, yet notorious phantom thief who hires Sha Wu Sheng as his personal body guard to protect himself against anyone who's out to hunt him.
For more insight, see his main character listing.
- Awakening the Sleeping Giant: Because he spreads stories about the exploits of Shang Bu Huan; an officer of The Empire, a member of The Omniscient Council of Vagueness, and a Fiery Redhead are now mobilizing to his location.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He didn't have to ruin Sha Wu Sheng for him to have a Heel–Face Turn. But he did it anyways... because he loves tormenting people.
- He also betrays Shang Bu Huan by spreading stories of him defeating the Xuan Gui Zong. Shang wants to remain hidden because he's being chased down by individuals who would steal the forbidden weapons he carries. However Lin wants him to encounter those pursuers. In short, he's stolen Shang's anonymity because it amuses him.
- For Great Justice: He rationalizes all of the actions he performs on his targets are karmic retributions for that person's misdeeds... or at least that's the statement he's sticking to when people call him out for being a Jerkass. There's a lot of Grey-and-Gray Morality involved. A whole lot.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: What he stole from Sha Wu Sheng were the opportunities for redemption, reconciliation with his master, regaining his honor, living a life other than murderous bloodshed, and lastly, Sha Wu Sheng's trust in building a friendship with a man named, "Ryou".
- Lack of Empathy: He doesn't care for Heel–Face Turn, nor redemption. All he desires is to witness people who've committed sins, regardless of depth, fall into despair. The reasons why someone commits the sin is irrelevant, and it's solely to serve his own sense of justice.
- Manipulative Bastard: He excels at making others dance to the destiny he desires for them.
- Toxic Friend Influence: While it's true Sha Wu Sheng made his choices, Lin Xue Ya set the stage and planted the seeds. Sha Wu Sheng trusted Lin Xue Ya, and that was his downfall. The greatest piece of evidence that could prove Sha Wu Sheng's innocence, the assassin's arrow, was removed by Lin Xue Ya. He also lied to Sha Wu Sheng that the tournament was still continuing and insinuated he may have told a few lies to everyone involved. Plus he was the person who hired the assassin to begin with.
Tie Di Xian
Name: 鐵笛仙 Tiě Dí Xiān (ZH) / Tekkisen (JA) / Iron Flute Hermit (EN)
Voiced by: Isshin Chiba (JA)
The Sword Master and foster father of Sha Wu Sheng.
- Animal Motifs: Dragons. He has a dragon design on his headgear.
- Arrogant Kungfu Guy: He holds the title of "Sword Saint" for decades with zero defeats. It has gotten to the point were he's made the highest judge of the competition and only competes in the final and only if he deems the semi-finalist is even worthy of a fight against him.
- Calling Your Attacks: When performing a Finishing Move of his swordsmanship style.
- Black Sky Gem Clatter was used against Sha Wu Sheng.
- Song of the Mountain: Rhapsody of Blades was used against Sha Wu Sheng.
- Dying Declaration of Hate: Tie Di Xian's last words to Sha Wu Sheng before he dies."I should have never taught you how to wield a sword. I should have waited for you to die! And if you refused to die... I should have killed you myself!"
- Killed Off for Real: He was tragically killed by Sha Wu Sheng, who did not want to end his master's life; at the very least, not in the way how it played out.
- One Head Taller: Tie Di Xian by far, is the largest puppet of the entire TBF roster. Mainly to display his authority over Sha Wu Sheng.
- A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil: As to how he views his student, Sha Wu Sheng. Unknowingly to Tie Di Xian, Sha Wu Sheng intended to to reconcile their relationship and his old ways of living, but Tie Di Xian wouldn't give him a chance to explain himself, nor listen to him.
- Showy Invincible Hero: Continuing the Arrogant Kungfu Guy above, he has zero defeats on record for as long as he attended the Sword Saint Competition. It got lampshaded in story as in the competitors are only competing for "The Sword Noble" title rather than "Sword Saint."
- With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: "To become a true swordsman is to understand it's powers and set it's boundaries." This was the core lesson that he wanted Sha Wu Sheng to learn while he was growing up and learning from him. But Sha Wu Sheng's failure in understanding him, along with Tie Di Xian's own lack of sensibility towards Sha Wu Sheng's questioning was what drives their relationship apart. Lin Xue Ya made sure to make full usage of that point.
- Worf Had the Flu: He lost the duel because Shou Yun Xiao fired an arrow through his leg after executing his Finishing Move. It's also what finalized his belief that Sha Wu Sheng cheated the entire tournament.
Other Characters
Can Xiong
Name: 殘凶 Cán Xiōng (ZH) / Zan Kyou (JA) / Vicious (EN)
Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (JA)
For more insight, see Can Xiong.
- Dual Wielding: According to him, he can wield two weapons just like Sha Wu Sheng.
- Impaled Palm: Can Xiong's right hand was badly injured from one of Shin Sen Shu's arrows.
Shen Jian Shou—The Magnificent Archer
Name: 神箭手 Shén Jiàn Shǒu (ZH) / Shin Sen Shu (JA) / Magnificent Archer (EN)
Discipline / Position: Archer
Voiced by: Rikiya Koyama (JA)
For more insight, see his listing under Shou Yun Xiao.
- Cool Mask: He wears one to conceal his true identify at the Sword Art Assembly.
The Episode of Shang Bu Huan
Shang Bu Huan's impostor
Voiced by: Satoshi Tsuruoka (JA)
A man pretending to be a legendary hero who's widely spread to be the person who took down the Xuan Gui Zong.
- Arrogant Kungfu Guy: Has laid the foundation of taking this kind of identity.
- Fake Ultimate Hero: He's nowhere near as awesome as he claims to be.
- Hilarity Ensues: His whole entire bluff story. Let’s just leave it at that.
- No Name Given: He is nameless and never given an identify of his own, since the Xuan Gui Zong took him in when he was an infant and trained him as a nameless Mook.
- The Reveal: He was a former member of the Xuan Gui Zong.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: The reason why he ran off from the Xuan Gui Zong it's because he doesn't want to be killed for being weak. He did this again when he found out that the surviving members of the Xuan Gui Zong are close by at the tavern.
- Sole Survivor: With the remaining member of Xuan Gui Zong killed by the real Shang Bu Huan, he's the sole survivor left.
- Stealing the Credit: He didn't do any of the things he claims he did, and in fact is taking the credit of actions achieved by three men.
- Tragic Keepsake: After he left the Xuan Gui Zong a year ago, he kept his mask as a reminder that he was a nameless Mook in the past.
Shang Bu Huan
Important Note: Most of his characteristics are revealed in Season One, please list only the tropes fit for this part of the storyline.
Name: 殤不患 Shāng Bù Huàn (ZH) / Shou Fu Kan (JA) / Unconcerned with Dying Young (EN)
Title: 刃無鋒 Rèn Wú Fēng (ZH) / Jin Muhou (JA) / Edgeless Blade (EN)
Voiced by: Jun'ichi Suwabe (JA)
A wondering swordsman who happens to stumble upon his impostor and sits to listen to his tale, with the man unaware that he is the real Shang Bu Huan.
For more insight, see his main character listing.
- Confusion Fu: Because he's a Multi-Melee Master and will use an Improvised Weapon without pause, his opponents spend as much time trying to get near him as they do trying to hit him.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: The remaining survivors of the Xuan Gui Zong realize he's a master of these. They try thinking outside the box and use creative traps to defeat him, but the results are still the same.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Strongly averted. He doesn't care for renown or a title. He even lets his impostor keep being his impostor, then offers several words of advise to being successful at it. Being an unknown wander is enough for him.
- He tries to make his imposter give credit to Juan Can Yun being one of the heroes, but is repeatedly shot down for trying.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: He's the person everyone is talking about and searching for.
- Hour of Power: The Xuan Gui Zong survivors have figured out Shang Bu Huan's use of qi without a metal sword tires him out very quickly. Unfortunately for them, he is keenly aware of this limitation and ends fights quickly.
- Improvised Weapon: Shang Bu Huan can kill you with anything around him: dead wood, rocks, logs, vines, swords embedded in the ground, etc.
- Spit Take: Not hard to imagine his reaction when witnessing an imposer bluffing right in front of his face.
- Vine Tentacles: He's a Multi-Melee Master, so it comes as no surprise when he picks up a vine and uses it in ways that would make a Belmont proud.
Other Characters
Tavern Owner
- Author Avatar: His face is a straight 3D-printed
copy of Director Jia-Shiang Wang, who was the director of TBF Season One. No wonder the details were so realistic.
The Xuan Gui Zong
- Avenging the Villain: The surviving members of the Xuan Gui Zong want to kill Shang Bu Huan because they believe he was the one to kill Mie Tian Hai.
- Suicide Attack: They are willing to drag Shang Bu Huan to hell with them after they learned a deadly technique from a demon that turns their blood into acid in close combat.
- Too Dumb to Live: They could have lived a normal life without the influence of their former master, but instead they will rather waste their life on meaningless revenge against Shang Bu Huan even though they don't stand a chance against him.
Qi Tian Di
Name: 棄天帝 Qì Tiān Dì (ZH) / Ki Ten Tei (JA) / Emperor of Relent (EN)
Voiced by: Huei-Fung Huang (Min-Nan)
- The Cameo: Qi Tian Di is originally from Pili's 2008-2009 TV series Pili Shen Zhou III: The Last Sin.
- Fallen Angel: To summarize his role from his parent show, he's basically this. Take him as Pili Co.'s blend of "Sephiroth" and "Gemini Saga" if you will.
- True Final Boss: Instead of Yao Tu Li, we were welcomed by this guy. The Taiwanese audience instantly recognized him and knew something was up.
