This is an adventure series using xian xia as the background, with the focus on growing up, facing a prejudiced world and finding your own footings in life. The journey finds 4 friends from different background coming together in the journey.
Hu Zhi is a demon tiger, whereby his demonic aura is hidden from a spell on him put upon by his mother who has disappeared subsequently. Confident, precocious and defiant, he is always looking out for those whom he treats as family. Hidden within a village in growing up, he is thrown with the other youths when the village is almost destroyed due to his reckless actions. At the start of the journey, he keeps butting head with the outwardly lofty Qi Xiao Xuan, who has a specially soft heart inside.
Qi Xiao Xuan is the deemed heir to the Qi Family, who is one of the great family in the continent. He has been taught to be always responsible, to the point of being cruel to manage order. Precisely due to these teachings, he is often conflicted with his inward sensitivity & empathy. On top of that, the Qi family is cursed with a secret. For the past 500 years since their first ancestor Qi Wu Ji, the descendants of the family in their childhood have 2 “souls”, of which at their coming-of-age ceremony, one would prevail over the other. Qi Xiao Xuan is considered the soul that prevailed, at the expense of his brother Qi Xiao Yan.
Muse #1 : I am actually fascinated with Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yan’s sibling rivalry and relationship. The betrayal which hurts Xiao Yan the most in their childhood is like a dagger stabbed on their wound, refusing to heal and festering over the years. The guilt that Xiao Xuan felt over the years shape his own views while the betrayal shapes Xiao Yan’s.
Zhao Xin Tong is the ambitious girl who is eager to please her father, and to take over his responsibility hoping he will pass on the Zhao Family’s skills in spears to her. She is usually the intermediary for the group of friends, as she is able to empathise with each of them and able to hear them out. Wang Yu Qian on the other hand, the last of the 4 friends, is a prince from the nearby country. He is eager to explore on his own instead of taking over the rule of his country, running off to explore. He has an affinity for medicine and a special power whereby he will “die” when knocked with a brick, but will resurrect at a later stage.
As the 4 friends goes through the journey, they are often faced with prejudices & challenges. The continent is one which is biased against demons, whom they think are bad at all angle. As they explore further, they are often faced with situations which provide evidences that there are always background stories to each situation. And often than not, many of the demons, are either pushed to revolt in order to survive or maligned by human beings. To the youths’ horror, it is also often their own elders who are keeping secrets and aggravating the prejudices against demons to maintain status quo in their hierarchy and life. Facing such biases & unjust, the youths find their own footing, assessing the situations before deciding on their directions. Often than not, they are not afraid to go out of their comfort zone to challenge the status quo. When the truths are revealed, they are guided with their heart to take the uncommon path in order to ensure justice prevails.
Muse #2 : I find the the series emphasize on seeking the truth with compassion as a very great guide. A simple guide but provides each situation with finding the truth and providing different perspectives to the original view.
The journey goes through various stages including
- The encounters putting the 4 friends together through the demon-hunting Qi Xiao Xuan, allowing him to meet the other 3 friends;
- The friends train together for a competition, and to join the demon-hunting guards;
- Journey for Zhao Xin Tong to earn the respect of his family and the right to inherit her family’s spear fighting skills, leading to her being the leader of the demon-hunting guards;
- An exploration into Xiao Xuan & his twin brother’s previous conflict, leading to the current whereby Xiao Yan is still alive & plotting to take over the physical body of Xiao Xuan;
- Following Hu Zhi’s demonic aura, the friends assist him to investigate his past, leading to him finding his mother;
- Their exploration of their ancestor’s stories, and the secrets that bind the past and the present – mainly in the stories of the main families of the continent, especially of Qi Wu Ji – the ancestor of the Qi Family
There are many other smaller characters, who have been given their own storylines. Some are short but explored in details, providing a very well-balanced storytelling.
One such character is Qi Yan Ran – Although sibling to Qi Xiao Xuan, she is completely the opposite of Xiao Xuan. Ambitious, cruel, go-getter, she is not shy to put down her own brother in order to inherit the family’s leadership. However, the series provide the backdrop to the current her, providing perspectives to why she ends up with such behaviour. Her strained relationship with their grandmother (whom she deems as favouring Xiao Xuan), her own fight with her twin during childhood teaches her the strongest survives, her strong needs for approval. The list goes on. Although coloured as a villain early on, these perspectives provide some clarity on her decisions, and also shows her own tough journey. She is able to redeem herself at the later stage, also due to her realisation of her own journey.
Another is the protagonist Fairy Yi Mei. Her character is one of the best, and He Lan Dou the actress is able to bring out the best in this character with her deadpan and blank face. Although as an audience, you would really like to hate this character for all the hurt she imposes on many, her own backdrop story is quite an eye-opener. Originally the soul of a doll and companion to Qi Wu Ji’s wife, she only has her eyes for her lady master. When her lady master dies, she is totally lost. In a way, she lost the conscience and will do anything to maintain her master’s physical body.
Muse #3 : Also to note, He Lan Dou is also the same actress who plays Princess Yang Ying in A Journey to Love. Definitely one young actress to note for her future projects.
There are just too many other smaller characters worthy of their own stories – Mo Gu Zi, Ta Lao Ye (Xiao Xuan’s master) etc. The series is really very good to include so many
Plot spoiler – the last few episodes focused on the encounter of the past, with link to the present for the youth. The protagonist from the ancestors’ generation Qi Wu Ji, is revealed to be deceiving everyone – past and present. He is the real demon, and is also the ancestors to Qi Xiao Xuan, and surprise (!) the father to Hu Zhi. The path towards seeking the truth ultimately reveals all the misdeeds that was done by Qi Wu Ji, who is selfish and crave for power. He is great at masking his desire, spinning a story that is always putting him in good light as the hero. When all is revealed, Qi Wu Ji turned himself into a demon. Facing off with his descendants – Hu Zhi (tiger) and Xiao Xuan (in the form of crane), the duo finished off the real villain.
Muse #4 : The series has repeatedly provide surprise to me, henceforth giving a spin to Qi Wu Ji’s backdrop story. Even with such a villain, his story provides empathy to his journey with his twin – Qi Wu Shuang. And the final revelation on the major change in personality to Qi Wu Ji.
Conclusion : 8/10
The adventurous youths provides laughters, tears and a great journey for the audience to follow them. Pacing of the stories is great and I find myself always wanting to know what is next in the adventure of these youths. I love the key themes included in their journey – always follow your heart to seek the truth, give a chance to see others’ perspectives before deciding on your own stance and deciding what to do.
For those young at heart with a penchant for adventures and story-telling, the series will provide plenty of adventure. Go ahead and spend the time to watch this good story-telling with perspectives & morale to boot.
Cheng's Musings 