Mystic Nine: William Chan and Zeng Shunxi Drama on Viki
The Mystic Nine 2
William Chan and Zeng Shunxi reunite in the Chinese suspense drama Mystic Nine, now available on Viki and Youku.
Airing · 30 episodes · Viki, Youku · China
Synopsis and details
The Chinese suspense and adventure series “Mystic Nine” premiered on July 30, 2026. The production is available on Youku and has also been added to Viki’s catalog. The title is a direct sequel to “The Mystic Nine” and stars William Chan, Zeng Shunxi, and Chen Yao.
The series recorded strong viewership figures in its first few days of release. According to data from Maoyan Pro, the series surpassed 200 million valid online views by August 3, 2026. On Youku, the title reached 10,000 popularity points by August 1, setting a record as the fastest series of 2026 to achieve that milestone on the platform.
What Is Mystic Nine About?
Set during the Republic of China era, the story follows a new crisis unfolding in the city of Changsha. Commander Zhang Qishan (William Chan) and Wu family head Wu Laogou (Zeng Shunxi) join forces with Huo Xiangu (Chen Yao) to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a 100-member military unit known as Unit 401.
The investigation leads the group to explore ancient tombs at Geshilou Tower and Caopan Mountain. During the expedition, they discover that the Japanese army plans to use the Geshilou tomb to develop a secret weapon, uncovering a conspiracy that has remained hidden for more than a century.
Cast and Characters
The drama brings together characters who lead traditional explorer families:
- William Chan plays Zhang Qishan: Leader of Mystic Nine and a military commander tasked with defending Changsha. He uses the powers of his bloodline to unravel the tombs while dealing with political decisions and foreign enemies.
- Zeng Shunxi plays Wu Laogou: The head of the Wu family, who specializes in using hunting dogs for exploration. During the events, he plans to keep his descendants away from power struggles.
- Chen Yao plays Huo Xiangu: The meticulous and determined head of the Huo family. She suffers a serious accident while exploring Geshilou Tower after triggering a trap.
- Wang Yiting plays Yin Xinyue: Zhang Qishan’s wife and the heir to the New Moon Hotel in Beiping. She coordinates a confidential intelligence network to assist her husband’s investigations.
- Ashton Chen plays Hei Bei Lao Liu: A solitary, highly skilled swordsman who serves as the group’s armed protection during underground missions.
- Xu Zhengxi plays Er Yuehong: An opera performer who conceals his exploration skills. He tries to thwart the Japanese plans while dealing with the moral decline of his own disciple, Chen Pi.
Production, Screenplay, and Direction
The series is a co-production between Youku Information Technology and Quantum Entertainment, under the overall direction of Bai Shan. Consisting of 30 episodes with a runtime of 45 minutes each, the series was written by Nanpai Sanshu, the author of the original source material. According to the screenwriter, the sequel’s script underwent seven years of development, with annual revisions made to adapt the story to advances in the audiovisual industry.
The art direction creates a striking visual contrast: above-ground scenes use warm lighting and low saturation to realistically recreate the Republic of China era, while underground settings feature cool, grayish tones to convey a sense of oppression. Filming took place at Hengdian World Studios between May and September 2025.