Ashes of Love Episode 53 Recap, Plot

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Xu Feng, still fueled by the unresolved hatred for Run Yu over his parents' deaths and his own demise, reviewed the recent announcement from the Heaven Realm. He acknowledged his phoenix nirvana and rebirth as a divine will he would not squander. Though he vowed to atone for his parents’ alleged crimes, he swore to never forget Run Yu's role in their deaths and his own, promising to exact his revenge.

Feeling adrift—neither immortal nor human—he resolved to become a demon and challenge Run Yu to a decisive battle. King of Bian City pledged his support. To achieve his goal, Xu Feng outlined a meticulous plan to oust King of Gu City. King of Bian City revealed he had placed a secret agent for this very purpose and summoned him. Xu Feng observed the man, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Li Chuan.

King of Bian City confirmed he was Mo Qi, Li Chuan's twin brother. They also recognized that the success of their plan depended on King of Qing City, whom Lord Liaoyuan had once aided in the mortal world. King of Bian City remarked that Lord Liaoyuan’s selfless act, performed while accompanying Xu Feng on his mortal trial, had unexpectedly created beneficial karma for Xu Feng now, which would surely comfort Lord Liaoyuan’s spirit.

Assuming Li Chuan's identity, Mo Qi confronted King of Gu City, expressing his torment and confusion about why the king had sought to kill him. King of Gu City, believing Mo Qi was the real Li Chuan, scoffed at his naiveté, explaining that Xu Feng had discovered Li Chuan cultivating crimson grass. If Li Chuan had not "died," the trail would have led directly back to the King of Gu City, exposing his schemes.

Mo Qi pressed further, arguing that he couldn’t have cultivated the crimson grass without King of Gu City's Qiong Qi plague needle, accusing the king of abandoning him to save himself. King of Gu City, nodding smugly, boasted about killing King of Yan City using the crimson grass to seize the Demon Lord title and framing others. As King of Gu City prepared to silence Mo Qi permanently, Xu Feng intervened, arriving with King of Qing City.

Xu Feng reminded King of Gu City of his confession to murdering King of Yan City. King of Qing City, acting as the Great Elder, condemned King of Gu City for plotting against the Demon Lord and framing other kings. He then announced King of Gu City’s removal from the Demon Lord’s position on behalf of the twelve cities.

Enraged, King of Gu City attempted to attack King of Qing City with his Demon Dagger but was swiftly struck down by Xu Feng. He fled in disarray, with Liu Ying and Mu Ci giving chase, but ultimately managed to escape. Later, in Yujiang Palace, the Demon Realm assembled as King of Qing City convened a meeting to elect a new Demon Lord. King of Bian City, declining the position himself due to his advanced age, nominated Xu Feng.

The demons were divided: some feared provoking the Heaven Realm, while others supported Xu Feng, citing his numerous interventions to quell unrest in the Demon Realm. King of Qing City affirmed Xu Feng's past assistance and stressed that the Demon Realm and Heaven Realm were independent, so taking Xu Feng as their leader would not constitute an offense. He further added that Xu Feng had saved his life, thus he fully endorsed Xu Feng as the next Demon Lord.

King of Qing City then asked Xu Feng if he was willing to become a demon and accept the mantle of Demon Lord. Before Xu Feng could reply, Moon Immortal, having rushed to the scene, interjected, urging Xu Feng to reconsider, warning that this choice meant forsaking his Heavenly Dragon bloodline. However, Xu Feng showed no hesitation, remembering Run Yu's past accusations against the Heaven Realm.

He declared his unwavering commitment to the Demon Clan, vowing to serve its people with all his might for the rest of his life. After drinking the demon blood offered by King of Qing City, Xu Feng swore to sever all ties with the Heaven Realm. King of Qing City then presented him with the Meteorite Demon Dagger. As Xu Feng raised it, its power surged through him, transforming his attire into that of the Demon Lord.

The assembled demons willingly bowed to their new sovereign. King of Bian City and Liu Ying watched with profound joy. Back in the Heaven Realm, Kuang Lu informed Run Yu that Xu Feng had become the Demon Lord. Though surprised, Run Yu acknowledged that Xu Feng was no longer the person he once was, while Kuang Lu interpreted it as a declaration of war against the Heaven Realm.

Meanwhile, Yan You tried to cheer up Jin Mi, who was still confined. He recounted how Xu Feng, now the powerful Demon Lord, had unified all the demon tribes and absorbed King of Gu City’s forces, becoming the most revered Demon Lord in history. Yan You playfully warned Jin Mi not to grieve over such a fickle person, claiming Xu Feng was accepting all female demons who vied to be his attendants in Yujiang Palace.

Jin Mi, holding a storybook Yan You brought from the Demon Realm, was lost in thought, blaming herself for Xu Feng's fall into the demonic path. Yan You reassured her, stating that Xu Feng was safe and thriving as the unrivaled ruler of the Demon Realm. Unbeknownst to them, Run Yu stood silently behind her. He observed Jin Mi's continued preoccupation with Xu Feng and asked if she had considered that Xu Feng might not wish to see her.

Jin Mi admitted she felt unworthy to face Xu Feng but longed to see him from a distance. In the Demon Realm, Xu Feng struggled with intense internal coldness, a result of over-training, his hands freezing uncontrollably. He resorted to alcohol to suppress the discomfort. Sui He, distressed by his state, embraced him.

Xu Feng noticed old scars on her hands, and Sui He explained they were from an injury inflicted by Yin Que when she saved Xu Feng, after being betrayed by Que Ling and losing her spiritual power while transferring it to him. Moved by her sacrifice, Xu Feng immediately took Sui He to the Bird Realm, vowing to help her reclaim her rightful place as leader. Upon arriving, Xu Feng summarily executed Yin Que when he refused to yield.

Witnessing this decisive display of power, the other Bird Clan elders swiftly pledged allegiance to the Demon Realm and recognized Sui He as their new leader. Que Ling, the one who betrayed Sui He, was brought before her. Sui He initially intended to imprison her, but Xu Feng deemed her too merciful. Yielding to his unspoken command, Sui He then declared that Que Ling would be publicly executed within three days, serving as a dire warning to any future traitors.

Sui He thanked Xu Feng for helping her regain control of the entire Bird Clan. Later, as Kuang Lu reported the Bird Clan's allegiance to the Demon Realm to Run Yu, King of Gu City unexpectedly arrived alone. He offered to help Run Yu conquer the Demon Realm, demanding to be reinstated as Demon Lord in return. Run Yu, distrusting him due to his recent plotting against the Heaven Realm, questioned King of Gu City's value.

King of Gu City then offered a compelling incentive: he claimed he could find the Spirit-Vanishing Arrow to eliminate Xu Feng permanently, thereby securing Run Yu's reign. Meanwhile, Jin Mi remained under house arrest in Xuanji Palace. Yan You sought out Moon Immortal, the only one capable of breaking Run Yu's ward. Moon Immortal, believing Jin Mi had conspired with Run Yu against Xu Feng, was furious and refused to help, wishing her to suffer harsh divine punishment.

Yan You, however, passionately defended Jin Mi, explaining she had helped Xu Feng escape, leading to her confinement. After much persuasion, Moon Immortal begrudgingly agreed to accompany Yan You to Xuanji Palace. With Moon Immortal's assistance, Jin Mi was finally freed from the ward. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the immortal for his repeated rescues and declared her intention to go to the Demon Realm to see Xu Feng.

In the Demon Palace, Xu Feng was enjoying wine and a dance performance when he suddenly flew into a rage. A demon attendant had mistakenly placed a plate of grapes in the hall, a fruit Xu Feng now vehemently despised. Jin Mi, observing from afar, understood this profound aversion was a manifestation of Xu Feng's deep-seated hatred for her. Heartbroken, she dared not approach and retreated to Liuzi Pond in the Heaven Realm.

There, she wept before a withered Phoenix tree, her heart heavy with regret. She decided to give herself one last chance: if the Phoenix tree bloomed again, she would go to see Xu Feng; otherwise, she would never seek him out again in this lifetime.

Episode 52 Recap

Episode 54 Recap