The Journey of Flower (Chinese: 花千骨) is a 2015 Chinese television series starring Wallace Huo and Zhao Liying. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Fresh Guoguo, which is inspired from Daoist legends regarding the path to immortality. The series was broadcast on Hunan TV every Wednesday and Thursday for two episodes per day, from 9 June to 7 September 2015.
Contents
Synopsis
Hua Qiangu (Zhao Liying) is an unlucky orphan born with a strange scent which attracts demons, and therefore is hated and feared by all the villagers. When she faces danger, she is saved by a man called Mo Bing, who is actually Bai Zihua in disguise. Bai Zihua (Wallace Huo) is a kind-hearted immortal who wants to protect all Earthly beings. The only heavenly tribulation in his life is actually Hua Qiangu, whom he is tasked to kill by his master. However, after witnessing her kind heart and foreseeing her tragic future, he spares her life.
In search of her benefactor, Hua Qiangu heads to Mount Chang Liu, a sect that trains their disciples into immortals. That He got there, just before the devil did killed the secret people and her master make her the new master of MT . Chang Liu .With the help of Bai Zihua, she passes through various trials to become his only disciple. As the two spend more time together, Hua Qiangu falls in love with her teacher. The Emperor of human realm and many other also falls in love with her .When Bai Zihua falls into danger, she embarked on a journey to retrieve the ten ancient artifacts in order to attain the Yanbing Jade that would save his life. This causes the Demon God to be revived. The Demon God transfers all his power into her body afterwards, and Hua Qiangu falls into the world of Emptiness. She unleashes the Great Desolate Energy Force to become the new ruler of the Demons. Bai Zihua tries to steer her towards the righteous path, and comes to her side alone to accompany her. When Hua Qiangu realizes Bai Zihua's true feelings for her, she decided to let herself be killed by him to restore peace to the world. All of her friends understand that they under mistake her.
After Hua Qiangu dies, Bai Zihua feels extremely remorseful. One of the three masters from Changliu, Mo Yan, decided to use the power of nature to exchange his life for hers and restored her. In the end, Bai Zihua decides to leave Changliu to take care of Hua Qiangu.
Cast
Main
Wallace Huo as Bai Zihua
Chang Liu's Sect Leader and the head of all immortals. He is tasked to protect the magical realm of Chang Liu. He appears to be outwardly cold and heartless, but he cares for Hua Qiangu deeply. However, he has to hide his emotions because of his sense of propriety.
Zhao Liying as Hua Qiangu
The last descendant of Goddess Nuwa. She has a unique scent on her body, which attracts demons. When she was born, she causes all the flowers around her to wilt, and therefore she was named "Thousand Bones of Flower". She comes to Chang Liu, and becomes Bai Zihua's only disciple. She is also the fated calamity of Bai Zihua.
Supporting
Shen Baoping as Reverend, previous sect leader of Chang Liu. Bai Zihua's teacher.
Jiang Yiming as Mo Yan
Chang Liu's Shi Zun, Bai Zihua's senior. He is a strict and unyielding man who protects Bai Zihua and dislikes Hua Qiangu. He died after sacrificing his life to revive Hua Qiangu after discovering her kindness.
Miao Chi as Sheng Xiaomo
Chang Liu's Ru Zun, Bai Zihua's junior. He kindly treated Hua Qiangu with concern as an elder.
Hou Yehua as Tao Weng, head librarian of Chang Liu.
Dong Chunhui as Luo Shiyi
Mo Yan's senior disciple. He is a kind-hearted and fair man who helps protect Chang Liu. He likes Tang Bao.
Li Hanyang as Li Meng
Disciple of Chang Liu. Bai Zihua's attendant. He witnessed Bai Zihua going crazed and biting/kissing Hua Qiangu, and was later silenced by Mo Yan.
Li Chun as Ni Mantian
Princess of Penglai. Disciple of Luo Shiyi. She is a proud and haughty girl, and gets jealous when Hua Qiangu becomes Bai Zihua's disciple. She likes Shuo Feng, and is angered by his protectiveness toward Hua Qiangu. She died while trying to absorb the desolate force from Hua Qiangu.
Bao Tianqi as Qing Shui
Princess of Zhou Kingdom. She is a good friend of Hua Qiangu. She falls in love with Meng Xuanlang, and later left Chang Liu to stay with him. She was jealous of Meng Xuanlang's affections toward Hua Qiangu, and tried to prevent Tang Bao being saved. After Tang Bao's death, she lost her memories due to the guilt she felt and becomes a crazed woman.
Others
Zhang Danfeng as Dongfang Yuqing
Lord of Strange Decay. He possesses the ability to know everything from the past. He hates Bai Zihua for killing his father, and plans to use Hua Qiangu's special fate to plot against him. However, he fell in love with Hua Qiangu after getting to know her, and eventually died while protecting her from Mo Yan.
An Yuexi as Tang Bao
A ginx worm originated from Strange Decay pavilion and formed by Hua Qiangu's blood. She changes into human form after she was agitated by Ni Mantian. She likes Luo Shiyi.
Li Cheng as Lu Qiao, loyal follower of Dongfang Yuqing. She died while helping Hua Qiangu to retrieve the ten ancient artifacts.
Zheng Yecheng as Nan Xianyue
Previous demon lord and leader of the Seven Murder Factions. He was rescued by Hua Qiangu when the 10 immortal devices are restored. Later, his death was faked with the help of Bai Zihua and he becomes an ordinary citizen.
Sun Gelu as Yun Ya
A palace maid at Lotus City.
Wu Gou's lover and fated calamity. She was abetted by her friend Mei'er to steal a treasure, and was killed by various sect leaders.
Wang Jiusheng as Hua Qiangu's father. He died of illness.
Production
Fresh Guoguo, the writer of the novel, was recruited to be one of the scriptwriters of the drama. Academy-award nominee Chung Munhai, who was the costume designer of the movie Curse of the Golden Flower was also recruited on set. The 3D effects are handled by the company Prime Focus.
The shooting of the drama started on 6 May 2014, in Guangxi, China and was wrapped up on 14 September 2014 in Hengdian World Studios, China. The preliminary work started one and a half years ago, including choosing of outdoor scene locations and building filming sites in scenic spots in Guangxi.
Reception
Two versions of a three-minute short trailer, one in Chinese and the other dubbed in English, were released online, receiving more than 280 million views on Weibo and becoming one of the hottest topics on social media. In October 2014, two longer trailers dubbed in both Chinese and English language were released in Cannes, France, and received an overwhelming response.
The drama was a huge commercial success in China, with an average rating of 2.784% (CMS50) and 2.213% (nationwide), becoming the second highest rated drama of 2015. It also became the first Chinese drama to surpass 20 billion online views. A licensed mobile game was also released, and brought in more than 10 million active players and 200 million yuan in revenue in its first two months.
In 2016, The Journey of Flower was featured on the New York Times.
International broadcast
Taiwan - CTi Variety, CTV, KKTV
Cambodia - Rasmey Hang Meas HDTV
Vietnam - HTV3, ZingTV, VTV5 Tây Nguyên, BPTV1 (Bình Phước Radio - Television - Newspaper)
Thailand - PPTV
Malaysia - 8TV, ntv7
Singapore - Mediacorp Channel 8
