Chinese Drama Titles

The Hunt (命悬一生 /Ming Xuan Yi Sheng)

Michelle Topham October 11, 2025

Chinese Title: 命悬一生 /Ming Xuan Yi Sheng
English Title: The Hunt
Also Known As: Yi Sheng Xuan Ming
Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller
Episodes: 16
Director: Sun Mo Long
Screenwriters:
Original Work: Web novel “Yi Sheng Xuan Ming” (一生悬命) by Lu Chun Wu (陆春吾)

Plot Synopsis

Ni Xiangdong, at the request of his friend Cao Xiaojun, transports a wooden box to an abandoned hut on a desolate mountain, only to discover that the box contains Cao Xiaojun’s body. Cao Xiaojun’s wife, Wu Ximei, reports her missing husband to the police, implying that his disappearance is related to Ni Xiangdong.

However, as a witness, Wu Ximei’s testimony is contradictory, and the couple’s child is not Cao Xiaojun’s biological child. Under relentless questioning from the police, Wu Ximei is forced to recount the past of the three.

The three had been friends; Wu Ximei and Ni Xiangdong were lovers; Ni Xiangdong is unwilling to take responsibility for the child, and Cao Xiaojun steps forward to take her away and raise the child together.

During the investigation, the police further discover that Wu Ximei’s child is not related to Ni Xiangdong by blood either.

Opinions about Ni Xiangdong are now completely divided: people from his hometown say he was wicked; his coworkers, however, say he was kind and had even helped an elderly man surnamed Xu.

Veteran police officer Meng Chao, along with rookie Tong Hao, travel from the northern coast to the southern forests, meticulously unraveling the serial murder plot involving Wu Ximei, Cao Xiaojun, and Ni Xiangdong that had entangled them for over a decade, and ultimately bring the perpetrators to justice.

Main Cast & Characters

Lead Cast

Huang Xuan as Xu Qing Li
Teresa Li as Wu Xi Mei

Supporting Cast

Zhang Zhe Hua as Meng Chao
Bai Yu Fan as Cao Xiao Jun
Yin Fang as Ni Xiang Dong
Jiang Pei Yao as Tian Bao Zhen
Xu Ao Jun as Tong Hao
Ren Cheng Wei as Ma Chi Hua
Wang Yong Quan as Sun Chuan Hai
Liu Min Tao as Tong Hao’s mother

Production Details

Original Work: Adapted from the web novel “Yi Sheng Xuan Ming” (一生悬命) by Lu Chun Wu (陆春吾)
Production Company: iQIYI and Daylight Entertainment
Filming: Filming began in Ding’an County, Hainan Province on October 5th, 2024, it wrapped on January 3rd, 2025.