The Journey of Flower (花千骨)

The Journey of Flower is a 2015 Chinese xianxia television series starring Wallace Huo and Zhao Liying. It is based on the novel of the same name by Fresh Guoguo, which draws inspiration from Daoist legends regarding the path to immortality. The series follows Hua Qiangu (Zhao Liying), an unlucky orphan born with a strange scent that attracts demons, making her hated and feared by her village. When she faces danger, she is saved by a man named Mo Bing, who is actually Bai Zihua (Wallace Huo) in disguise, a kind-hearted immortal dedicated to protecting all earthly beings. As fate draws them together, Hua Qiangu enters the Changliu Sect as Bai Zihua's disciple. Although their love is forbidden, the two grow closer through a series of trials and tribulations. However, Bai Zihua is Hua Qiangu's destined "fatal calamity"—her life is fated to be destroyed by his hand. Torn between their feelings and the responsibilities of their stations, the master and disciple face trials involving friendship, sacrifice, and redemption, culminating in an epic confrontation that pits the immortal realm against demonic forces and one woman's destiny against the fate of the world.

The series has 58 episodes (approx. 45 min each) in the TV version and 50 episodes in the DVD version. The journey can be broadly divided into four main story arcs:

• Act 1: Destiny Awakens — From Outcast to Changliu Disciple (Episodes 1–12): After being ostracized her entire life due to her demon-attracting scent, Hua Qiangu's father dies, prompting her to seek refuge at the Shu Mountain Sect where she discovers her unique powers. As darkness looms, she eventually enters the prestigious Changliu Sect as the sole disciple of the enigmatic immortal leader Bai Zihua—unbeknownst to both, she is destined to be his "fatal calamity".
• Act 2: Trials of the Heart — The Forbidden Bond Deepens (Episodes 13–26): As master and disciple journey through the mortal realm, their bond deepens beyond propriety. Bai Zihua struggles to suppress his growing feelings while upholding his duties. Jealous rivals and emerging demonic threats test their relationship, and Hua Qiangu endures numerous trials—including being poisoned by Xia Zixun, a rival who covets Bai Zihua's affections—proving her loyalty and devotion at great personal cost.
• Act 3: The Turning Point — War, Sacrifice and the Descent into Darkness (Episodes 27–48): A brutal war erupts between the immortal and demon realms. In an act of immense self-sacrifice, Bai Zihua takes a deadly poison to save the world, and Hua Qiangu risks everything to save him. Betrayed and falsely accused, she grows increasingly desperate, eventually unleashing her suppressed powers and transforming into the feared demon goddess. The heart-wrenching climax comes when Hua Qiangu, controlled by the Demon God, causes chaos and Bai Zihua is forced to choose between his duty to the world and the woman he loves. In one of the most devastating moments in xianxia drama history, he fatally wounds her with the legendary sword, Yuantu, as she whispers, "I curse you, Bai Zihua, to live an eternal life in endless loneliness and pain."
• Act 4: Rebirth and Resolution — A New Beginning (Episodes 49–58): In the aftermath of tragedy, the characters grapple with loss and redemption. Through supernatural intervention and Hua Qiangu's lingering divine essence, a path to her rebirth emerges. The series culminates in a poignant reunion, as love and sacrifice ultimately transcend fate, giving the couple a second chance at happiness.