Genshin Impact Zibai: White Horse Adeptus, Daughter of Time

First came the Moon Maiden, and now the White Horse Adeptus. It seems Luna IV will not only be an extremely content-rich version but also one that will leave wallets quite empty. Today, let's uncover the charm of this brand-new character-Zibai-together!

Liyue White Horse Adeptus

Speaking of Liyue's "White Horse Adeptus," most probably feel both familiar and unfamiliar with her. The sense of familiarity comes from the fact that this adeptus was actually foreshadowed in background texts as early as the game's launch, making her an "'ancient' character." Furthermore, the game later added new books that supplement her background, so those interested in the lore are certainly very familiar with her. In the 2025 Lantern Rite Festival storyline, this White Horse Adeptus was officially mentioned, making her widely known.

The sense of unfamiliarity stems from the fact that, although the Traveler and the adepti of Liyue are quite acquainted, the true face of this White Horse Adeptus alone has remained unknown. Through various descriptions of her in the storyline and literature, we learn that she possesses wisdom spanning past and present, even able to narrate in detail the forgotten history from before the time of the Funerary Flame. Moreover, she carries extraordinary identities and backgrounds, such as being a "Divine Envoy who once dwelled on the moon" and the "Daughter of Time." All of this shrouds this adeptus in a thick veil of mystery.

The Origins and Meanings of Zibai

Now that the White Horse Adeptus has finally been officially revealed with her image and true name "Zibai," before the new chapter of the Lantern Rite Festival arrives in Luna IV, let's briefly review and summarize the currently known information about this adeptus.

The earliest known record of the White Horse Adeptus comes from the book "Moonlit Bamboo Forest," available at launch. The story tells of a young man from Qingce Village, weary of his monotonous life, who resolved to leave. He accidentally lost his way in a bamboo forest as the sun set. As the bright moon gradually rose, the young man encountered a woman in white with captivating golden eyes. Although he had heard tales from the village elders about the legend of a White Horse Adeptus who was once active around the Qingce mountains, leaping from a clear spring to assist the Geo Archon in battling a wicked dragon, to the young man who had never left the mountains, both the Geo Archon and the adepti seemed elusive and too distant. He never imagined that the mysterious woman before him was the legendary White Horse Adeptus.

Here is a brief look into the origin of the name "Zibai." Zibai is a mythical equine divine beast recorded in ancient Chinese legends, also known as "Bo." The legend describes it as resembling a white horse with a black tail, a single horn on its head, teeth as sharp as fangs, four clawed feet, and a roar that sounds like a beating drum, and it preys specifically on tigers and leopards. In the ancient Chinese dictionary Shuowen Jiezi, the character "Zi" is explained as meaning "lush vegetation," while "Bai" describes the color white or brightness. Therefore, the compound name "Zibai" refers to this specific white divine beast.

In the story of "Moonlit Bamboo Forest." Though the boy felt uneasy, somewhat afraid that the unfamiliar woman might be a harmful mountain spirit or ghost, night had already fallen. With no other choice as he was lost, the young man decided to take her hand, and they strolled through the shadows fragmented by the bamboo leaves. When the bright moon hung high, the two stopped. The boy listened to the ancient myths narrated by the woman in white and sank into an indescribable slumber. The woman gently stroked the hair of the now deeply asleep boy, looked up at the bright moon amidst the sea of bamboo, and let out a sorrowful sigh, the gold in her eyes dimming slightly. This is the earliest foreshadowing in the game regarding the Three Moons and the matter of the Three Moon Goddesses.

By daybreak, the lost boy had been led by the woman, hand in hand, to the edge of the bamboo forest. Feeling grateful and still deeply enthralled by the stories she told the previous night, the boy asked for the woman's name and origin. The woman in white only smiled in silence. The boy bid farewell and walked towards the bustling port city, while the woman stood silently at the bamboo forest's edge. Her golden eyes already reflected the boy's turbulent life ahead. Sensing something, the boy suddenly looked back, but there was no one behind him-only a strand of white mane had fallen upon his shoulder.

The above is the complete story of "Moonlit Bamboo Forest." I strongly recommend everyone watch the ink-wash-style animated short film of the same name, which premiered at the 2024 Genshin Impact Universe Screening Festival. The short film was produced with the participation of the top-tier French animation studio, PASSION. Furthermore, this "Moonlit Bamboo Forest," rich in Eastern fantasy, was previously successfully shortlisted for the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. The animation's production quality and artistry are exceptionally high, capturing the intended artistic conception perfectly, making it well worth watching.

Records of the White Horse Adeptus reappeared in the book "Springs of Hidden Jade," implemented in Version 5.2. A young man, who had come to Chenyu Vale hoping to master a craft, found himself lost in the secluded bamboo forests of the valley. Unexpectedly, he encountered an adeptus who was also traveling through these mountains. It was a woman wearing a gauzy white robe and a gleaming, pearl-like straw raincoat and hat. Her golden eyes were dazzling and gentle yet detached, and her voice was elegantly serene, like beautiful jade dropping into a clear spring. This ethereally beautiful woman was the White Horse Adeptus.

Under the illumination of the silvery moonlight, the young man toured adeptal abodes and scenic, secluded spots within the valley alongside the adeptus. He also listened as she recounted many ancient, long-forgotten legends of the mortal world, spending a wonderful night together.

As the first rays of the sun rose, much like when the adeptus had faced another unfamiliar child in the bamboo forest, the young man, preparing to leave, couldn't help but ask for her name and homeland. The woman only smiled faintly, turned her back to the scattered sunlight, and said no more. Sighing, the young man knew pressing further was futile and bowed his head in farewell to the adeptus.

The above is a summary of the story in "Springs of Hidden Jade." Of particular note is the entire passage describing the White Horse Adeptus in the second volume, which contains a wealth of information.

The book describes her as the "daughter of time," implying a certain connection between the White Horse Adeptus and the Ruler of Time, Istaroth.

Content later in the text corroborates this point. The place mentioned in the passage should be Byakuyakoku (Enkanomiya). According to the records in Before Sun and Moon, when Byakuyakoku sank and was forgotten by the world after the War of the Funerary Flame, it was Istaroth who did not abandon them and extended a helping hand, allowing their civilization to endure in the ocean depths. Based on the account in Springs of Hidden Jade, it was likely the White Horse Adeptus who served as the Ruler of Time's envoy, delivering the message of salvation to Byakuyakoku at that time.

Now, the comment on Zibai's character profile is indeed spoken by Istaroth, confirming the connection between the White Horse Adeptus and the Ruler of Time.

The close connection between the White Horse Adeptus and the Three Moons Goddesses is mentioned again. Now, combined with the Nod-Krai storyline, it allows for a better understanding of its meaning.

Through the Luna III main storyline, we now know that during the War of the Funerary Flame, the returned former lord of the world, Nibelung, discovered that the Three Moons Goddesses, his own creations, were suspected of disloyalty. He imprisoned them and transformed the moons, originally protectors of the world, into weapons against the Heavenly Principles. As the moons posed a threat to Teyvat that exceeded tolerable limits, the Heavenly Principles, with immense power during that great war, shattered two of the three moons (the Eternal Moon and the Iridescent Moon) and cast the only remaining intact moon (the Frost Moon) beyond the False Sky. Since then, the moon has not been tolerated within Teyvat, rejected by the world's rewritten laws.

In the Travelers' Tales for the Nod-Krai region, Yanfei, who was visiting Hiisi Island, was mistaken by the children as also being a "Moonsong Envoy" because of the horns on her head. This reminded her that she had once heard from Madame Ping that there was indeed an adeptus in Liyue connected to the moon. Later, unexpectedly, we even heard a legend related to the "White Horse Adeptus" from Lauma. According to the records of the Frostmoon Scions, this adeptus seems to have once been a "Divine Envoy who resided on the moon.

Thus, it becomes easy to understand the description of the White Horse Adeptus in Springs of Hidden Jade: precisely because she was once the messenger of the Three Moons Goddesses, she has always remembered the past of the three moons. After the moons were destroyed and the sole remaining one was cast beyond the heavenly curtain, she, who remained in Teyvat, naturally became a wanderer in a foreign land with no roots to trace back to-and this is the source of all her melancholy.

By the time of the 2025 Lantern Rite Festival storyline "Drawing Peachwood Charms in the Spring Sun," through Yun Jin practicing the Liyue opera The Sanctification of Tao Dou, the White Horse Adeptus was officially and explicitly mentioned in the plot. According to Yun Jin's account, the "Gold-Eyed Celadon Mare" among the Eight Wonders in Liyue legends is believed to be the legendary White Horse Adeptus who appears in the mountains around Qingce. Legend has it that after Tao Dou was sanctified, the White Horse Adeptus retreated from the world, and her whereabouts became unknown.

Now we know the legends are true. Although the White Horse Adeptus once served as one of the adepti, following the Geo Archon Morax during the Archon War to pacify the land of stone and protect its peace, she chose to retreat from the spotlight after achieving her merits, living a life of seclusion.

The White Horse Adeptus's persistence stems from her determination to safeguard the increasingly forgotten stories of the old world. The comment on her character profile from Istaroth, "The wind always wears grace into distant tales, and tales into blurred legends, for the eventual oblivion... So why did you make such a choice?", is essentially an evaluation filled with incomprehension and pity for this ascetic-like choice of hers.

It is not hard to guess that the new Lantern Rite Festival story arriving in Luna IV will likely revolve around Zibai's memories, unfolding along the lines of the conviction in her heart. The above covers all the information and introduction regarding Zibai's character story. I believe that after reading it, you will certainly see the charm of this character. Remember to keep following our new articles and site merchandise. See you next time!