Ashes of Love Episode 10 Recap, Plot

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Sui He suspected there were hidden motives behind Xu Feng's injury in the Demon Realm. She expressed frustration to the Heavenly Empress that Xu Feng didn't seem to align with her and criticized Princess of Bian City, Liu Ying, for her overly familiar attitude towards Xu Feng, fearing the gossip it would stir in the Heaven Realm. The Heavenly Empress dismissed Liu Ying's actions as mere "demon's tricks." However, she asked Sui He for her opinion on Xu Feng's injury.

Sui He insisted that given Xu Feng's cultivation, he couldn't have been easily wounded, and Liu Ying wouldn't allow a helper from the Heaven Realm to get hurt. She concluded that there must be another story behind the incident. The Heavenly Empress then ordered Sui He to investigate the Demon Realm, paying close attention to Qiong Qi and the three Demon Kings, to see if Run Yu was secretly colluding with them.

Sui He summoned Kuang Lu, a soldier recently conscripted into Xuanji Palace. Sui He offered Kuang Lu a prestigious position under Fire Immortal at the Divine Army Mansion if she would keep a close eye on Run Yu, reporting every detail of his daily activities, meetings, and conversations. Kuang Lu, however, was wary. She questioned Sui He's authority to make such transfers and revealed that she had voluntarily joined Xuanji Palace, not because she was late for conscription.

Angered by Kuang Lu's perceived lack of ambition, Sui He threatened her, clarifying that the order to monitor Run Yu came directly from the Heavenly Empress. Upon returning to Xuanji Palace, Kuang Lu shared the Heavenly Empress’s scheme with Run Yu, lamenting the desolate state of the palace. Run Yu confided that many had been sent to spy on him over the millennia, but none had passed the test and all had been driven away.

Kuang Lu, admitting her fear of the Heavenly Empress, reaffirmed her loyalty to Run Yu and asked him to trust her as much as he trusted his Beast of Dreams. Run Yu thanked her, saying he was long accustomed to being disliked and believed that as long as he made no mistakes, the Empress could not harm him. Meanwhile, Jin Mi remained confined within Chief Peony's barrier.

When she wished for a meteor, hoping it would bring Xu Feng, Run Yu appeared instead, creating an illusion of shooting stars. Jin Mi, overjoyed, expressed her boredom and asked Run Yu to take her out of the Water Mirror so she could see the outside world. After a slight hesitation, Run Yu agreed. Jin Mi was amazed by his ability to easily bypass a barrier that even Lao Hu struggled with, praising his limitless future.

Run Yu downplayed his feat, then led her out of the Floral Realm. In the Demon Realm, the King of Gu City's subordinate complained that the Heavenly Emperor had gone silent after taking Qiong Qi, reneging on his promise to attack the Demon Lord. He called the Emperor unreliable, recalling how he had abandoned them after the Heaven-Demon War and regretting their decision to release Qiong Qi for him.

The subordinate worried that their plan to remove the Demon Lord was now thwarted. The King of Gu City, however, remained calm. He stated that he would not rush for the Demon Lord's throne, having his own methods to secure it. He believed the ambitious Heavenly Emperor would not be satisfied with just the Heaven and Demon Realms.

He decided to let the Heavenly Emperor use Qiong Qi to "fight at the front," while he would wait for the opportune moment to unite all six realms. Sui He reported back to the Heavenly Empress, confirming that Xu Feng was indeed injured by Qiong Qi and that Run Yu had no contact with the Demon Kings. The Heavenly Empress dismissed Run Yu, feeling she had overestimated him.

Sui He then shifted suspicion to Jin Mi, reminding the Empress that Jin Mi had served as Xu Feng's page boy. Sui He highlighted that Qiong Qi had inexplicably escaped the Soul Cauldron, despite Xu Feng’s powerful seals, and that Jin Mi was present when Xu Feng was poisoned, implying her involvement.

She also pointed out the suspicious ease with which Night Rattan, a sacred Floral Realm object, was provided to save Xu Feng, given the long-standing grudges between the two realms. The Heavenly Empress ordered Sui He to keep the investigation secret and dispatched Qi Yuan to the Floral Realm to investigate Jin Mi.

Qi Yuan returned to report that the Floral Realm appeared normal, except for a courtyard within the Water Mirror barrier, which was sealed by a powerful Peony spell. Fearing to alarm the chiefs, he had not entered. Sensing something amiss, the Heavenly Empress decided to go to the Floral Realm herself. She offered Chief Peony a "thank you" gift, citing the Floral Realm's generosity in providing Night Rattan to save Xu Feng.

Chief Peony, however, attributed Xu Feng’s recovery to fate and politely refused the Empress's gratitude. The Heavenly Empress then directly asked to see Jin Mi, stating her presence at Xu Feng's poisoning. Chief Peony refused, explaining that Jin Mi had committed a serious error and was undergoing repentance, seeing no one.

She advised the Empress to question Xu Feng directly about the attack and reminded her that the Heaven Realm, especially someone of her status, had no right to interfere in the Floral Realm's internal affairs. Despite Chief Peony’s efforts to dismiss her, the Heavenly Empress persisted. Convinced that Chief Peony's evasiveness was a cover-up, the Heavenly Empress resolved to confront Jin Mi herself. She broke through the barrier surrounding Jin Mi’s courtyard.

Chief Peony rushed to stop her, accusing the dignified Heavenly Empress of lowering herself to break into a fairy's room. The Heavenly Empress demanded to know Jin Mi’s identity and why she was protected by a double-layered barrier. Chief Peony retorted that it was none of her business. They both entered the house, only to find Jin Mi gone.

Xu Feng, alone and deep in thought, seemed troubled, lamenting that he might not even be worthy enough to be heartbroken for Jin Mi. Run Yu visited a sullen Jin Mi at his palace, who admitted she was worried about Xu Feng's injuries and wished to visit him. Run Yu reassured her that Xu Feng had recovered after taking the Night Rattan and was recuperating.

However, Qiwu Palace was bustling with visitors, and her appearance there would undoubtedly draw attention, exposing her hiding place in the Heaven Realm. Jin Mi reluctantly agreed not to go. She then asked to see the meteors again, and Run Yu offered to show her something "even more special"—the Heavenly River.

As they admired the beautiful, tranquil expanse of stars, Jin Mi observed that Run Yu's duties were far more solitary than the lively day-time duties of the Maori Star Guardian. Run Yu sighed that he was "fated to be alone," having lived for millennia eating, practicing, reading, and sleeping by himself, thus never experiencing enough liveliness to truly know loneliness.

To comfort him, Jin Mi gave him a night-blooming cereus seed, explaining that it only bloomed at night, much like him, and could be his companion. Run Yu was delighted, promising to care for it and hoping they could watch it bloom together. Jin Mi then requested to stay at Xuanji Palace, asking Run Yu not to return her to the Water Mirror. Run Yu readily agreed, promising not to send her back.

Just then, Kuang Lu arrived with urgent news: Chief Peony was coming to the Heaven Realm to retrieve Jin Mi. Panicked, Jin Mi suggested hiding in Run Yu’s palace, but Run Yu, while touched by her trust, advised that the Heaven Realm was not the best place for long-term freedom. Jin Mi, unfamiliar with the six realms, asked for his guidance.

Run Yu suggested the mortal world, where the myriad of mundane life and mixed scents would make it nearly impossible to track her. Jin Mi praised his insight and cleverness. Run Yu arranged a quiet residence for Jin Mi in the mortal world, giving her the alias "Ling Guang" and dressing her in men's clothes. The local Earth Immortal, drawn by the celestial aura, soon arrived.

Run Yu introduced Jin Mi as "Mister Ling Guang," a friend experiencing troubles who would be staying for a few days, asking the Earth Immortal to look after him. The Earth Immortal, who revealed he was a former mountain bandit, pledged to protect Ling Guang at all costs. While wandering, Jin Mi, still disguised as Ling Guang, encountered Yan You at a restaurant. They shared some wine and osmanthus duck.

Jin Mi found the mortal wine too strong, comparing it unfavorably to Yan You's "immortal-brewed wine." Yan You discussed the four greatest pleasures of life: eating, drinking, playing, and enjoying. Jin Mi mentioned that Run Yu had been keeping her company, playing chess and zither, and discussing poetry and books. She then asked Yan You what "playing and enjoying" truly meant. Yan You, finding the Heaven Realm too boring, promised to show her the real pleasures of the mortal world.

He led her to a cloth store that served as a front for an underground gambling house. Inside, Jin Mi found mahjong uninteresting because she won every time. She preferred the back-and-forth challenge of chess with Run Yu over winning mere money. Meanwhile, Xu Feng also arrived in the mortal world, searching for Jin Mi.

He questioned the local Earth Immortal about a beautiful young lady or a fairy child with a grape vine, but they denied seeing anyone matching her description. Xu Feng was perplexed, as Jin Mi's scent was clearly strong in the area. Back in the Heaven Realm, the Heavenly Emperor visited Luo Lin's residence. They shared a drink, and the Emperor reminisced about Zi Fen. Luo Lin, however, was reluctant to dwell on the past.

The Heavenly Emperor then informed Luo Lin that the Heavenly Empress’s birthday was approaching and, given her suspicious nature, he and the Wind God, Lin Xiu, must attend to avoid inviting criticism. Luo Lin agreed. The Heavenly Emperor then lamented that his son had been engaged for 4,000 years, but his future daughter-in-law was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, Chief Peony and other flower fairies forcibly entered Qiwu Palace, demanding Jin Mi from Xu Feng.

Xu Feng insisted he did not have her and that she was not in his palace. Chief Peony, however, was adamant, believing only Xu Feng could have taken Jin Mi from the Water Mirror. Xu Feng reiterated his promise not to meet Jin Mi in the Floral Realm and stated he had only just learned of her disappearance and was about to search for her.

The Heavenly Empress then arrived, chastising Chief Peony for her lack of manners and baseless accusations. She declared that Jin Mi was not there. The Empress ordered Chief Peony to leave, while Xu Feng vowed that he would find Jin Mi himself.

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