Tianxia Diyi

The Royal Swordsmen is a Chinese wuxia television series directed by Deng Yancheng and Wei Liyuan, starring Roger Kwok, Li Yapeng, Wallace Huo, Michelle Ye, Damian Lau, Tammy Chen, Gao Yuanyuan and Eva Huang. It was first shown on Shenzhen Media Group's Drama Channel on 30 January 2005. Plot The series is set in China during the Ming dynasty. Zhu Wushi, the Emperor's uncle, had received an order from the previous emperor to establish a secret service to protect the monarchy. One of the most formidable martial artists in the jianghu himself, Zhu Wushi has recruited four elite agents who are known by their code names: Heaven Number One, Mysterious Number One, Earth Number One, and Yellow Number One. Heaven Number One is the calm and cool-headed Duan Tianya, who was raised as Zhu Wushi's godson and sent to Japan to learn ninjutsu from the Iga School. While in Japan, he had a romantic relationship with Yukihime, the elder daughter of Yagyū Tajima-no-Kami, the patriarch of the influential Yagyū clan. He also meets Nemuri Kyōshirō and learns kenjutsu from him. However, he becomes an enemy of the Yagyū clan after taking revenge against Yukihime's brother, who had murdered Nemuri Kyōshirō. Torn between her family and her lover, Yukihime ultimately sacrificed herself to prevent her father from killing Duan Tianya in a duel. Years later, Duan Tianya encounters Yukihime's sister and starts a relationship with her, but this brings him into conflict with the Yagyū clan again. Mysterious Number One is the beautiful and intelligent Shangguan Haitang, who is well-versed in various skills and arts, including medicine and astronomy. Like Duan Tianya, she was also raised by Zhu Wushi as his goddaughter and trained by him in martial arts. She is in charge of an organisation made up of experts who are considered "Number Ones" in their respective trades, fields and professions. Through the organisation, she helps her godfather gather intelligence and scout for talents to join the secret service.