The Blue Whisper

Lore & Background

The series follows Chang Yi, the merman prince of the East Sea, who rescues Fairy Shunde but is tricked and imprisoned in Wanhua Valley. Ji Yunhe, a spirit master and protector of the valley, seeks freedom by attempting to tame Chang Yi. During this process, the two fall in love, facing conspiracy, misunderstanding, and separation before ultimately joining forces to save the world.

Reader's Guide

The Blue Whisper is significant as a 2022 Chinese television adaptation of a popular xuanhuan web novel, starring high-profile actors Dilraba Dilmurat and Ren Jialun. Its two-part release structure and 42-episode run reflect typical Chinese drama serialization. The series explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption within a fantasy setting, contributing to the ongoing popularity of xuanhuan romance dramas in Chinese media.

Did You Know?

• Filming began in Hengdian World Studios on February 16, 2021, and completed on June 6, 2021.
• The series is based on the web novel The Tale of the Merman by Jiulu Feixiang.
• The soundtrack consists of 5 tracks sung by various artists.
• Main actors Dilraba Dilmurat and Ren Jialun jointly attended the 2021 Youku Annual Press Conference to promote the series.

The Central Romance and Narrative Arc

The Blue Whisper tells the story of two unlikely souls drawn together across the boundaries of the supernatural world. Chang Yi, a merman prince hailing from the East Sea, first enters the narrative after rescuing the endangered Fairy Shunde at sea. However, his act of kindness backfires when he is deceived and cast into the cruel imprisonment of Wanhua Valley. There he meets Ji Yunhe, the valley's spiritual master and guardian, a young woman who has lived under the valley master's control since childhood. Seeking her own liberation, Ji Yunhe takes a bold gamble by attempting to tame the captured merman. What begins as a transactional arrangement slowly transforms into genuine affection as the two grow closer during the taming process. Their bond is tested by layers of conspiracy, painful misunderstandings, and repeated separations. Yet their love ultimately shatters every restraint placed upon them, surviving countless hardships before the pair finally unite and join forces to save the world itself.

A Vast Ensemble Across Multiple Realms

The series features an expansive cast that populates several distinct supernatural factions. At the center stand Dilraba Dilmurat, who voices and portrays Ji Yunhe (with Kristina playing her younger self), and Ren Jialun as the merman Chang Yi (voiced by Zhang Jie). Surrounding them, Flower Valley is inhabited by a colorful group: Lin Haoqing, the valley's young master (played by Xiao Shunyao, with Xiao Tianren in the young role), his father Lin Canglan as the valley master (Hai Yitian), the butterfly spirit Luo Jinsang (Hu Yixuan), the mountain cat spirit Li Shu (Ci Sha), and the armed-forces commander Qu Xiaoxing (Wang Junhao). The Immortal Master Mansion faction includes the immortal master Ning Qing (Wang Dong) and Fairy Shunde (Guo Xiaoting), while the North Abyss introduces the Qing Qiu Fox Tribe under King Qing Xuan (Fu Hongsheng) and his heiress Qing Yao (Wang Yifei). The Heaven Realm is led by the Heavenly Emperor Ru Jun (He Yuxiao) and his immortal lords.

Production Timeline and Broadcast Structure

Filming for The Blue Whisper kicked off at Hengdian World Studios on February 16, 2021, with a formal opening ceremony held two days later on February 18. Principal photography wrapped on June 6, 2021, meaning the entire shoot spanned roughly four months. During production, on April 15, 2021, the two lead actors, Dilraba Dilmurat and Ren Jialun, appeared together at the 2021 Youku Annual Press Conference to promote the upcoming series to fans and media. The finished drama was released in 2022, airing from March 17 through May 18. The broadcast was structured in two distinct parts: Part 1 ran from March 17 to April 1 and comprised 22 episodes, while Part 2 followed from April 4 to May 18 with 20 episodes, bringing the total to 42 episodes. The series also received a dedicated soundtrack album, The Blue Whisper OST, featuring five tracks performed by various artists.

Source Material and World-Building

The Blue Whisper adapts the xuanhuan romance web novel The Tale of the Merman, authored by Jiulu Feixiang. The xuanhuan genre blends elements of Chinese fantasy and mythology, and the source material's romantic focus positions it squarely in the romance subcategory. The television adaptation expands the novel's world into a richly layered cosmology spanning multiple supernatural factions and realms. Flower Valley, also called Wanhua Valley, serves as the primary setting, home to spirit beings such as butterfly and mountain cat spirits alongside other characters. Beyond it lie the Immortal Master Mansion, where celestial disciples train under immortal masters; the North Abyss, which houses the Qing Qiu Fox Tribe with its own royal hierarchy; and the Heaven Realm, governed by the Heavenly Emperor and his immortal lords. This multi-realm architecture gives the series a sweeping epic scope while keeping the intimate love story at its emotional core.

Gallery