★ A hard-boiled wuxia epic set in 607 AD, under the tyrannical rule of Emperor Yang of Sui. A lone bounty hunter traveling with his young son accepts a seemingly routine escort job—one that will change the fate of an empire.
★ A massive hit in Japan—the series has sold over 1 million copies in China and has been featured three times on Japan's NHK television news, where it was praised as “a masterpiece of Chinese manga at a solar-system level.” Endorsed by Rumiko Takahashi (Inuyasha) and Tohru Fujisawa (GTO). The former editor-in-chief of Crayon Shin-chan wrote the foreword and came to China to serve as its editor.
★ Winner of the Gold Award for Best Story Comic and Best Screenplay at the 20th China Golden Dragon Awards—the country's most prestigious comics honor. The animated adaptation won the Silver Award for Best Animated Series.
★ Live-action film Blades of the Guardians: Wind Over the Desert, directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix, Kill Bill) and produced by and starring Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior), released in February 2026 across China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Malaysia. It grossed over 1.2 billion RMB (approx. 160 million USD) in China and 214 million USD globally, setting a new box office record for wuxia cinema. The film topped the holiday box office chart in Malaysia and ranked #1 in Singapore on Chinese New Year's Day. Season 2 of the animated series premiered on June 11, 2026.
★ Rights sold: Japanese, Korean, French, German, English, Russian. More languages in negotiation.

The series is complete in 13 volumes:
Wanderer Arc (Vol. 1) — Sets the stage and establishes the protagonist's identity and the core mission. (Corresponds to chapters 1–5)
Desert Arc (Vols. 2–7) — The escort party ventures deep into the desert, where clan rivalries and imperial schemes intensify. (Corresponds to chapters 6–50)
Jianghu Arc (Vols. 8–13) — The party enters central China, where the imperial court, religious sects, and heroes of the underworld converge. (Corresponds to chapters 51–122)

In 607 AD, under the brutal reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the common people are pushed to the brink of survival. Roaming the vast deserts of the Western Regions is a bounty hunter known as Dao Ma—a lethal fighter who travels with his young son, Xiao Qi. Burdened by a crushing debt, he accepts a simple but unusual assignment: escort a mysterious fugitive—wanted by the imperial court—to the capital of Chang'an.
But nothing about this job is simple. What begins as a routine escort mission soon becomes a gauntlet of betrayal and bloodshed—imperial assassins, power-hungry merchant clans, and cold-blooded government agents close in from every direction. A single journey unravels the tensions that will soon ignite a rebellion that topples a dynasty.

Volume 1 introduces the world with bold, ink-wash artwork, visceral action, and a taut narrative rhythm. This is a story of honor, defiance, and the bonds that hold a man to his word—a hard-boiled wuxia saga about a father, a son, and a promise worth dying for.

Xu Xianzhe (born 1984) is a Chinese comic artist. Before becoming a creator, he worked in advertising and as a literary translator. At age 26—with no formal art training—he dedicated himself to creating comics. He spent four years developing Blades of the Guardians, producing over 2,000 pages of discarded drafts before finding his style.
In preparation, he studied historical texts such as the Sui Chronicles and the Zizhi Tongjian, striving for authenticity in period-accurate costumes, weaponry, and historical atmosphere. His work blends influences from Hong Kong cinema, Italian Westerns, and Japanese chanbara films—grounded in history, but driven by raw emotion.
Xu Xianzhe and his work have received numerous accolades, including the Gold Award for Best Story Comic at the 20th China Golden Dragon Awards, the Best Market Performance Award at the Cai Zhizhong Comic Awards, and recognition as one of "China's Top 40 Animation and Comics Figures Over 40 Years." His major works include Blades of the Guardians and Assassin's Creed: Dynasty.

Preface
Chapter 1: The Wanderer
Part 1: Dao Ma and Xiao Qi
Part 2: Wanted Poster
Part 3: Chisha Town
Part 4: The Twin-Headed Snake
Part 5: Song of the Sandstorm
Chapter 2: The Desert
Part 6: Ambush from All Sides
Part 7: The Escort
Special Appendix: Dao Ma and the Tyrant
Afterword