Love Between Fairy and Devil Episode 16 Recap
> Love Between Fairy and Devil Recap
The episode opens in a vibrant village within Cangyan Sea, where women go about their daily lives, some carrying bows and spears, others tending to household chores. Xiao Lanhua, having just arrived with Dongfang Qingcang, is cautioned by a woman about the flower she wears. The woman explains that the flower, known as the Frost Salt Flower, is traditionally worn only by widowed women in their tribe.
Xiao Lanhua observes that nearly every woman in the village wears the flower, indicating the widespread loss of men to past wars. The woman recounts the years of conflict and how each obituary meant another woman began wearing the flower, expressing a wish for their lost family members to return, unlike flowers which can be revived. Dongfang Qingcang, nearby, listens intently. An elderly woman, Granny Tie, recognizes Dongfang Qingcang.
While the other villagers immediately prostrate themselves in deference, Granny Tie remains seated, demanding answers. She asks Dongfang Qingcang where he was for the past 30,000 years, during which the Cangyan Sea was devastated and its people suffered immensely, becoming displaced and losing their loved ones. She laments that her husband and son died on the battlefield while waiting for him, and her grandson, who hunted with Dongfang Qingcang as a child, was sealed in the Xuanxu Realm.
Despite knowing her defiance might lead to her death, she implores him to bring back the men he led away. Dongfang Qingcang listens silently, offering no response. On a cliffside, Xiao Lanhua gently asks Dongfang Qingcang why he didn't explain himself to Granny Tie, asserting he never intentionally abandoned his people. He tersely dismisses her questions.
Xiao Lanhua then admits she envies his childhood, having heard Granny Tie mention his father took him hunting, a stark contrast to her own life as an orchid without parents. Dongfang Qingcang retorts that he envies her lack of attachments, considering them burdens. Xiao Lanhua laughs, calling him a "Wooden Head" and accusing him of contradicting himself. She reminds him that upon her arrival in Cangyan Sea, she was told that any offense to the Moon Supreme meant death.
Yet, he showed leniency towards Granny Tie despite her harsh words. Xiao Lanhua suggests his compassion for Granny Tie's love for her family moved him. Dongfang Qingcang vehemently denies this, stating he merely "couldn't bear" to harm an elderly woman. Xiao Lanhua presses him, pointing out that "couldn't bear" is a form of sympathy and compassion, part of the seven emotions he claims to have eradicated. The two then travel to Dongfang Qingcang's Sea of Heart.
To Xiao Lanhua's delight, the Love Tree, previously withered, has indeed sprouted, confirming her belief that she could heal it. However, Dongfang Qingcang's expression remains grave. Later, he is plagued by nightmares of his father appearing as a stern and fearful figure, ordering him to discard his wooden sword and practice with an iron one instead. Dongfang Qingcang awakes from these nightmares, deeply unsettled, and questions if the recovery of his seven emotions is accelerating.
Xiao Lanhua offers Dongfang Qingcang an orchid plant created from her primordial spirit, hoping it would help him sleep. He angrily rejects it, lashing out at her for mentioning his emotions. He explains that he endured immense suffering to sever his seven emotions, a necessary step to become ruthless enough to lead the Moon Tribe. He blames her for the resurgence of his feelings and his renewed pain, ordering her to stay away from him.
Meanwhile, Jieli, attempting to steal treasures from the Pavilion of Spiritual Treasures to escape, is apprehended. Confronted by Dongfang Qingcang, Jieli lies, claiming she intended to present the treasures to Xiao Lanhua to please her. Dongfang Qingcang, surprisingly, allows her to take them, even instructing his guards to let Xiao Lanhua take whatever she desires in the future.
Just as Jieli is relieved, Dongfang Qingcang's eyes fix on a wooden sculpture among the stolen items, and a deadly aura instantly emanates from him. A flashback reveals a younger Dongfang Qingcang crying over a scraped hand from using an iron sword. A kind maid comforts him and shows him an unfinished wooden sculpture she is carving, explaining it depicts Yannv, the first Moon Supreme.
Yannv led their ancestors to settle in Cangyan Sea, and her body bears many scars, each a testament to her glory. The maid tells young Dongfang Qingcang that he too must endure hardships and bear "scars" to become a strong Moon Supreme, someone who can revive Cangyan Sea and make his father proud. Enraged by the sight of the sculpture, Dongfang Qingcang orders Jieli's immediate execution. Shangque attempts to intercede, but Dongfang Qingcang is unmoved.
As he prepares to strike, Xiao Lanhua leaps forward, shielding Jieli with her body. Due to their shared consciousness, Dongfang Qingcang is forced to halt, and a fresh wound appears on his wrist. Xiao Lanhua defiantly refuses to move, pleading with Dongfang Qingcang to spare Jieli, claiming responsibility for the theft and declaring Jieli to be her only friend. Her stubbornness fuels Dongfang Qingcang's rage.
At this tense moment, a guard reports that Xunfeng is causing a commotion in prison, demanding to pay respects to the late Moon Supreme. Dongfang Qingcang orders the wooden sculpture to be burned. Jieli later tells Xiao Lanhua that according to Shangque, the wooden sculpture was carved by a young Dongfang Qingcang and a maid who cared for him. The late Moon Supreme later killed the maid, and the sculpture disappeared.
Jieli warns Xiao Lanhua that Dongfang Qingcang's temper has been particularly foul since his return from the Memory Loss River. Later, Dongfang Qingcang confronts Xunfeng in prison. Xunfeng admits he was tricked by the Lord of Haishi City and vehemently denies purposefully harming his own people. Dongfang Qingcang accuses Xunfeng of colluding with the enemy to refine evil spirits from the suffering of their clansmen. Xunfeng retaliates, accusing Dongfang Qingcang of killing their doting father for the throne.
Enraged, Dongfang Qingcang coldly declares that the late Moon Supreme was Xunfeng's father, not his, and orders Xunfeng's execution by lightning in three days. When an official notes this is the anniversary of the late Moon Supreme's death, Dongfang Qingcang dismisses it, stating that executing Xunfeng on that day would "fulfill their father-son love." Learning of the execution, Xiao Lanhua pleads with Dongfang Qingcang for Xunfeng's life, reminding him of their familial bond.
He scoffs, repeating that only Xunfeng and his deceased father were family. This unleashes a torrent of suppressed anger from Dongfang Qingcang. He bitterly recounts how his father doted on Xunfeng but never showed him affection, even when he discovered Dongfang Qingcang's unique talent for mastering hellfire. His father's only reaction was to ask, "Why you?" because, as Dongfang Qingcang believes, his father feared being replaced.
He reveals the excruciating truth: his father deliberately tortured him to sever his seven emotions, believing a tool needed no feelings. His father then demanded Dongfang Qingcang kill him, sacrificing his own life to completely destroy Dongfang Qingcang's Love Tree. The irony, Dongfang Qingcang concludes, is that the very tree his father sought to destroy is now reviving. Xiao Lanhua is deeply unsettled by this revelation.
Despite the public story of Dongfang Qingcang's patricide, she senses a profound misunderstanding and finds it hard to believe a father would act this way without a hidden motive. Suspecting the truth is far more complex, she resolves to learn every detail of the events from that day.
