Love Between Fairy and Devil Episode 18 Recap
> Love Between Fairy and Devil Recap
Dongfang Qingcang confronted the First Moon Supreme's primordial spirit, demanding to know if he would make the same choices if given another chance. Voicing his anguish, Dongfang Qingcang accused his father of using him as a mere tool to revive the Moon Tribe, forcing him to endure the removal of his emotional root, bear the name of a patricide, and become a monster. He questioned if his father ever felt heartbroken or remorseful for him.
The First Moon Supreme affirmed he would make the same decision again, explaining that Dongfang Qingcang's youth, strength, and talent made him the only hope for mastering the Hellfire and ensuring the Moon Tribe's survival. This was his duty. Flashbacks revealed the dire situation when the Chidi woman's army caused the Moon Tribe heavy losses, while a young Dongfang Qingcang was left waiting for his father to play Cuju with him.
Dongfang Qingcang accused his father of treating him as a soulless weapon, to which his father claimed he couldn't bear to see his son suffer. Dongfang Qingcang scoffed, wishing his father had killed him instead of making him endure a living death. The First Moon Supreme then revealed the terrible secret behind his actions: while the standard technique to destroy one's emotional root required a thousand years of repeated death and rebirth, killing a loved one could achieve it instantly.
He chose to be killed by Dongfang Qingcang's hand because he couldn't bear to inflict the prolonged suffering upon his son. The First Moon Supreme urged Dongfang Qingcang to complete the destruction of his regrown emotional root, offering a choice: become the invincible Moon Supreme and restore the tribe's glory, or remain weak and consumed by emotion. He commanded Dongfang Qingcang to shatter his spirit with the Hellfire sword.
However, Dongfang Qingcang refused, explaining that his recent days and nights had been filled with happy memories of practicing swords and playing Cuju with his father. He declared he would rather bear the pain of patricide and all his emotions than forget those feelings. As the Ranxi flower burned to ashes, the First Moon Supreme's spirit kicked the Cuju ball to his son one last time before vanishing, leaving Dongfang Qingcang to collapse in grief.
Meanwhile, Xun Feng was enduring the lightning punishment. After 30 of the 81 strikes, Dongfang Qingcang intervened, declaring he would take the remaining 51 strikes for his brother. Despite the brutal punishment, Xun Feng remained defiant, accusing Dongfang Qingcang of a "pretentious act" and vowing revenge. Angered by his ignorance, Xiao Lanhua confronted Xun Feng, questioning if he truly understood his brother's pain or the truth of their father-son conflict.
She left him a magical artifact containing the truth before helping the weakened Dongfang Qingcang away. Later, Xiao Lanhua found Dongfang Qingcang in the First Moon Supreme's chambers, clutching the Cuju ball and weeping. He confessed his new, profound sorrow, realizing that unlike before, he was now overwhelmed with grief on his father's death anniversary. He wondered if destroying his emotions would end the pain but declared that he no longer blamed his father.
Xiao Lanhua consoled him, gently coaxing him to take the bitter medicine for his lingering injuries, which still caused him great pain and made it difficult to walk. She promised to make him his favorite assorted fresh flower cakes with honey if he complied. Soon after, Xun Feng requested an audience. He sincerely inquired about Dongfang Qingcang's injuries and confessed his dealings with the mysterious Lord of Haishi City.
He explained that 30,000 years ago, after news of Dongfang Qingcang's supposed death, a masked figure offered to help him control the rebelling Southern and Northern Youxian counties in exchange for establishing Haishi City, on the condition that the Lord's identity remained secret. Dongfang Qingcang realized the Lord's true plan was to keep the Moon Tribe's kingdoms in perpetual conflict, weakening them.
Xun Feng expressed deep remorse, but Dongfang Qingcang stated that he was not pardoned and must redeem himself on the battlefield. After Xun Feng left, Xiao Lanhua noted his hesitant departure and suggested Dongfang Qingcang try being more intimate with his brother, such as smiling or hugging, to show he had truly forgiven him. Dongfang Qingcang admitted he had never been taught how to be close to people, only how to kill and conquer.
Xiao Lanhua playfully taught him how to smile and then demonstrated a hug, which he dismissed as "cheesy." Observing this, Jieli voiced her suspicion that Xiao Lanhua's care for Dongfang Qingcang seemed too genuine to be an act, but Xiao Lanhua quickly insisted she was only performing. Later, Xun Feng returned to discuss unsealing the 100,000 soldiers trapped in the Xuanxu Realm.
Dongfang Qingcang explained it was possible by taking the primordial spirit of Xie Wanqing—the Chidi woman's next reincarnation—and injecting it into the Shuofeng Sword. He ordered Xun Feng to retrieve her from Yunmeng Lake. As Xun Feng turned to leave, Dongfang Qingcang called out and, after an awkward attempt at a hug, patted his shoulder and told him to be careful. Witnessing this, Shangque remarked that Dongfang Qingcang was learning forgiveness and kindness.
Jieli worried that if he changed too much, he couldn't be the Moon Supreme, citing an ancestral teaching that only unrelenting hatred could ensure the tribe's survival. Finally, Dongfang Qingcang sought out Xiao Lanhua to ask if his flower cakes were ready. He then informed her of a Moon Tribe custom: to thank someone, one applies their own blood to the person's face. Seeing her fear, he revealed he had thoughtfully replaced the blood with cinnabar. He insisted she accept, stating it was the first time in his life he had ever thanked anyone, and she was not allowed to refuse.
