Wang Sheng (Kun Shen) leads an assault on a bandit hideout, during which he rescues Xiaowei (Xun Zhou), who is revealed to be a fox spirit requiring human hearts to maintain her youthful appearance. Wang brings Xiaowei home and introduces her to his wife, Pei Rong (Vicky Zhao), who graciously accepts her and offers her assistance. However, Xiaowei develops feelings for Wang. Following this, unusual occurrences begin, including disappearances and deaths. Pei Rong seeks help from a demon hunter named Pang Yong (Donnie Yen), who seems weary and unenthusiastic about the situation. He encounters Xia Bing (Li Sun), an amateur demon hunter eager to investigate, who suspects a chameleon demon is responsible for the trouble. It turns out to be Xiaoyi (Yuwu Qi), a demon also in love with Xiaowei, who is killing people to provide her with hearts. Pei Rong persists in trying to discover the cause of these incidents and eventually confronts Xiaowei, who then displays her true demonic form and proposes an agreement: the killings will cease, but Pei Rong will accept responsibility for the murders. The film combines elements of folklore, martial arts action, and a romantic plot. The actors deliver exceptional performances, portraying characters with both virtues and flaws, driven by their emotions and sense of honor—even the demons themselves. This results in a deeply affecting narrative, as no one is truly malicious and strives to minimize harm or at least believes they are acting justly. I’ve long admired Vicky Zhao's work, and Donnie Yen consistently impresses, but Xun Zhou stands out particularly well here. Her enigmatic allure creates a layered and captivating character that elicits hope for her redemption or acceptance of her choices. It comes highly recommended.

Source on TMDB