Once Upon a Time (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A tragic love story links Bai Qian's identities, Ye Hua's sacrifice, Qing Cang's defeat, and Mo Yuan's awakening.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Frozen God

Bai Qian serves Mo Yuan as Si Yin and falls in love with him. Mo Yuan sacrifices himself to seal Qing Cang, leaving his body preserved in ice.

Key Events

• Si Yin Serves Mo Yuan — Bai Qian lives as Si Yin and serves Mo Yuan, the God of War. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu
• Demon War Begins — Mo Yuan confronts Qing Cang during a battle between supernatural forces. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Qing Cang Location: Battlefield
• Mo Yuan Seals Qing Cang — Mo Yuan sacrifices himself to seal Qing Cang, scattering his soul. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Qing Cang Location: Battlefield
• Body Returned To Qing Qiu — Bai Qian brings Mo Yuan's preserved body to Qing Qiu and awaits his awakening. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu

A Betrothal Reborn

Bai Qian saves a child at a banquet and meets her betrothed, Ye Hua. Ye Hua recognizes her as his former love, while Bai Qian remains unaware of their shared past.

Key Events

• Banquet Kidnapping Attempt — Bai Qian saves a boy named Ah Li from being kidnapped. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su Location: Banquet hall
• Ye Hua Recognizes Su Su — Ye Hua sees Bai Qian and calls her Su Su, his former mortal love. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Banquet hall
• Ye Hua Visits Qing Qiu — Ye Hua and Ah Li arrive in Qing Qiu to build a connection with Bai Qian. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu
• Ye Hua Confirms Her Identity — Ye Hua concludes that Bai Qian was Su Su, while she does not remember their past. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu
• A Wedding Is Chosen — After developing mutual affection, Bai Qian and Ye Hua decide to wed. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu

Memories Beneath The Wound

Su Jin's account of Su Su's suicide makes Bai Qian doubt Ye Hua's intentions. An artifact restores her memories and reveals the painful circumstances of her mortal life.

Key Events

• Su Jin Reveals Suicide — Su Jin tells Bai Qian that Su Su committed suicide, triggering doubt about Ye Hua's motives. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Su Jin Location: Qing Qiu
• The Memory Artifact — An artifact given by Ye Hua restores Bai Qian's memories as Su Su. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu
• The Mortal Trial Begins — Bai Qian remembers being forced through a heavenly trial with her powers and memories locked away. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su Location: Mortal world
• Su Su Meets Ye Hua — Living as Su Su, Bai Qian meets Ye Hua after beginning her mortal life. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Mortal world

The Cost Of Deception

Bai Qian remembers being hidden as a maid, framed by Su Jin, and blinded by Ye Hua. Su Su's despair culminates in suicide, after which Bai Qian's memories are washed away.

Key Events

• Life In The Heaven Tribe — Ye Hua brings Su Su into the Heaven Tribe, where she is left to work as a maid. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Heaven Tribe palace
• Su Jin Frames Su Su — Su Jin frames Su Su for a crime after discovering her relationship with Ye Hua. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Su Jin Location: Heaven Tribe palace
• Ye Hua Takes Her Eyes — Ye Hua gouges out Su Su's eyes as punishment for the falsely attributed crime. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Heaven Tribe palace
• Su Su Dies In Despair — Believing Ye Hua no longer loves her, Su Su commits suicide after giving birth to Ah Li. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Heaven Tribe palace
• Memory Is Washed Away — Bai Qian's immortal body returns to Qing Qiu, where healing water erases her life as Su Su. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su Location: Qing Qiu

The Final Sacrifice

Bai Qian rejects Ye Hua after recovering the truth. When Qing Cang breaks free, Ye Hua reseals him through self-sacrifice, completing Mo Yuan's soul and enabling his awakening.

Key Events

• Bai Qian Rejects Ye Hua — After recovering her memories, Bai Qian refuses to see Ye Hua while he waits in Qing Qiu. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu
• Qing Cang Breaks Free — Qing Cang breaks free, prompting Ye Hua to take responsibility for defeating him. Characters: Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Qing Cang Location: Demon prison
• Ye Hua Reseals Qing Cang — Ye Hua sacrifices himself to lock Qing Cang away while Bai Qian witnesses the act. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan, Qing Cang Location: Demon prison
• Ye Hua Floats Beneath Ice — Ye Hua's body drifts into a freezing river and disappears beneath the ice as Bai Qian cries. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Freezing river
• Mo Yuan Awakens — Ye Hua's sacrifice completes Mo Yuan's scattered soul, allowing Mo Yuan to awaken and reunite with Bai Qian. Characters: Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su, Ye Hua / Mo Yuan Location: Qing Qiu

Story Breakdown

• Ancient War — Bai Qian's earliest bond with Mo Yuan is shaped by war against Qing Cang.
  • Si Yin's Devotion — Bai Qian serves Mo Yuan as Si Yin and falls in love with her master.
  • Soul Scattering — Mo Yuan sacrifices himself to seal Qing Cang, scattering his soul.
• Frozen Waiting — Bai Qian brings Mo Yuan's preserved body to Qing Qiu and waits for his return.
  • Icebound Body — Mo Yuan's body remains preserved inside a block of ice.
  • Qing Qiu Vigil — Bai Qian waits in Qing Qiu for Mo Yuan's eventual awakening.
• Unexpected Betrothal — A banquet and a family connection bring Bai Qian and Ye Hua together.
  • Banquet Rescue — Bai Qian saves a boy named Ah Li from kidnapping.
  • Former Love Recognized — Ye Hua calls Bai Qian Su Su and realizes she resembles his former mortal love.
• Renewed Romance — Ye Hua visits Qing Qiu, and mutual affection leads the pair toward marriage.
  • Qing Qiu Visit — Ye Hua and Ah Li arrive in Qing Qiu to bond with Bai Qian.
  • Wedding Decision — Bai Qian and Ye Hua acknowledge their mutual liking and decide to wed.
• Mortal Tragedy — Recovered memories expose the deception and punishment that destroyed Su Su's mortal life.
  • Memory Restoration — Ye Hua's artifact restores Bai Qian's memories as Su Su.
  • Palace Deception — Ye Hua hides Su Su as a maid, while Su Jin frames her for a crime.
  • Blinding And Suicide — Ye Hua blinds Su Su, and she later commits suicide after believing he no longer loves her.
• Memory Erasure — Bai Qian's body returns to Qing Qiu, where healing water removes her life as Su Su.
  • Healing Water — Bai Qian drinks healing water and forgets the painful mortal past.
  • Refused Reunion — After remembering the truth, Bai Qian refuses to see Ye Hua.
• Demon King's Return — Qing Cang breaks free and forces Ye Hua to confront the ancient threat.
  • Prison Break — Qing Cang escapes his confinement.
  • Ye Hua's Resolve — Ye Hua takes responsibility for defeating and resealing Qing Cang.
• Bittersweet Awakening — Ye Hua's final sacrifice both defeats Qing Cang and completes Mo Yuan's scattered soul.
  • Final Sealing — Ye Hua sacrifices himself to lock Qing Cang away while Bai Qian watches.
  • Soul Completed — Ye Hua becomes the final piece of Mo Yuan's soul, allowing Mo Yuan to awaken.
  • Reunion — Mo Yuan awakens and is happily reunited with Bai Qian.

Directed by

Anthony LaMolinara, Zhao Xiaoding

Key Cast

• Liu Yifei — Bai Qian / Si Yin / Su Su
• Yang Yang — Ye Hua / Mo Yuan
• Luo Jin — Zhe Yan
• Kevin Yan — Qing Cang
• Li Chun — Su Jin