Shadow Punisher — Strange cases, imperial investigators and a gentleman with a secret
Nine girls have vanished, and a witness reports seeing an uncanny puppet beside the culprit. Shadow Punisher follows investigators confronting seemingly supernatural crimes, alongside a man using their inquiries to uncover his own past. Luo Yunxi, Fang Yilun and Shen Yujie lead the cast of this 30-episode iQIYI series.
A suspect with his own reason to enter the bureau
The story takes place in the fictional Great Shi dynasty. Investigators from the imperial Shenbu Bureau suspect wealthy merchant Li Si because he owns a puppet resembling the one in the witness account. Bai Zhenzhu and her colleagues bring him in, but he uses his arrest to get closer to the restricted Tianshu Pavilion, where records connected with his past are kept.
Li Si wants to discover the truth behind an old case involving the fourth prince. A nighttime search of the pavilion brings him into a fight with Meng Rui. The two meet again while investigating missing children.
Li Si, Meng Rui and Bai Zhenzhu
Li Si — Luo Yunxi. Known as the gentleman Qingyang, this wealthy merchant conceals his reason for approaching the bureau. Questions about his identity and past run alongside the individual cases.
Meng Rui — Fang Yilun. Nicknamed the Ghost Constable, he is a bureau investigator skilled in martial arts. He initially crosses swords with Li Si, but a case involving missing children brings them to the same scene.
Bai Zhenzhu — Shen Yujie. The Frost Constable examines bodies for the bureau. She helps bring Li Si in as a suspect in the girls’ disappearance, then joins Meng Rui on their next investigation.
Official character and episode information · Official series page
A period mystery shaped by strange tales and martial arts
The cases involve such seemingly supernatural subjects as a giant man-eating plant and a boy who turns into a werewolf by moonlight. Alongside the search for clues, the series offers unfamiliar settings and martial-arts confrontations. Separate investigations unfold within a larger story of royal secrets, giving it a different atmosphere from a realistic procedural built around a single crime.
Directed by Steve Cheng, the series adapts Wang Ke’s novel of the same name. Its trailer offers an introduction to the visual style for viewers drawn to uncanny mysteries and a team of investigators. The official synopsis also includes murders and bodies, which may matter to viewers sensitive to grisly subject matter.
Official synopsis · Novel and production overview: UDN Reading
Responses to the individual cases and the larger story
Marie Claire Taiwan’s Nic reports praise for brisk individual investigations and the absence of forced romance, alongside reservations about the slow progress of Li Si’s larger backstory. The article also describes the elaborate creature effects while reporting complaints that their style weakens the eerie appeal of traditional strange tales. It surveys viewer responses through the middle of the series. Nic, Marie Claire, October 8, 2026; includes mid-series case details
In a feature for UDN Reading, contributor 機智影中人 highlights the folk-horror material and the investigators’ collaboration. 機智影中人, UDN Reading, October 5, 2026; introductory story details
The responses located so far come mainly from overseas outlets; independent Korean reviews remain limited.
Where to watch and the official trailer
Shadow Punisher premiered on October 2, 2026. At the November 2 check, iQIYI’s Korean page listed it as an original with all 30 episodes available and a 15+ rating. Episode access conditions are shown on the series page.
Watch Shadow Punisher on iQIYI · Official trailer from iQIYI DISTRIBUTION
If you are looking for a related story
For another Luo Yunxi period drama with a stronger romantic premise, Follow Your Heart pairs face-blind Jiang Xinbai with wandering doctor Yan Nanxing, whose appearance changes every month, as they solve cases together. Watch Follow Your Heart on iQIYI
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