The Journey of Chongzi Episode 11 Recap
> The Journey of Chongzi Recap
Distraught, Chong Zi wandered through the forest, lamenting that neither her Master, Luo Yinfan, nor her Uncle, Wan Jie, wanted her. She cried, unsure of where to go. As darkness fell, a group of demons appeared, surrounding her. They mocked her, reminding her that Luo Yinfan no longer protected her and that she, a mere disciple, had no power.
They plotted to capture her to gain information about Nanhua and to avenge themselves against Luo Yinfan, who had made them homeless. They taunted her about a Heart Poison given by Lord Yin Xinmo, which would make her suffer. As the demons closed in, Chong Zi, in her desperation, saw a vivid hallucination of Luo Yinfan.
She rushed to him, embracing him and tearfully apologizing, pleading with him not to abandon her and promising to return to the Immortal Prison if he would take her back. The illusion, fueled by the Heart Poison, made her believe Luo Yinfan was there, his warm presence momentarily bringing her solace. However, the demons' harsh laughter broke her reverie.
They revealed that the Heart Poison had exposed her deepest desires, accusing her of having inappropriate feelings for her Master and comparing her to Yin Shuixian, who also harbored such forbidden affections. Humiliated and terrified that her secret would reach Luo Yinfan, Chong Zi begged the demons not to spread the word. Their laughter intensified, but then abruptly ceased as Wan Jie suddenly appeared, effortlessly vanquishing them. Wan Jie immediately suppressed the Heart Poison in Chong Zi.
Still shaken, Chong Zi expressed her fear that Luo Yinfan now knew her feelings and would expel her. Wan Jie reassured her that since the demons were dead, her Master would learn nothing and certainly wouldn't expel her. He also mentioned that secret agents from the immortal sect were searching for her, suggesting Luo Yinfan still cared. Chong Zi was relieved, but Wan Jie cautioned her against extreme emotions due to the Heart Poison.
He then cradled her, promising that no one would dare bully her as long as he was there. Wan Jie later apologized to Chong Zi for earlier driving her away, and Chong Zi responded that she would truly leave if he did it again. She found herself liking the Land of Tribulations and expressed a desire to plant flowers and trees, envisioning a beautiful spring landscape.
While exploring, Chong Zi encountered a snake and, unafraid, joked about cooking it into soup or wine. Wan Jie, however, warned her to be careful as it was a creature of the demon realm. Chong Zi, undeterred, declared that the three of them—her, the snake, and Wan Jie—were now a family. Observing Wan Jie's lingering sadness, Chong Zi sensed his longing for Gong Keran.
Wan Jie confirmed he missed her, describing her presence like the wind, clouds, and flowers, yet knowing she was ultimately out of reach. Chong Zi then proposed they go and bring Gong Keran back, offering to transform the desolate Land of Tribulations into a beautiful paradise, even more magnificent than Changsheng Palace. Wan Jie initially doubted such a barren land could be changed overnight, but Chong Zi's determination moved him.
With a wave of his hand, Wan Jie miraculously transformed the gloomy, barren land into a vibrant oasis filled with green trees, fresh flowers, and sparkling waters, turning the demon realm into an earthly fairyland. Chong Zi, pleased with the transformation, insisted Wan Jie should also dress more cheerfully. They went to a clothing shop, where Wan Jie was captivated by a red wedding dress, envisioning Gong Keran wearing it.
Chong Zi encouraged him to buy it for Gong Keran, believing it would win her over. Wan Jie purchased the dress. Later, Chong Zi mused that a particular color would suit Luo Yinfan, but quickly dismissed the idea, convinced her Master, as Sage Chonghua, would never accept anything from her. Following Chong Zi's persistent encouragement, Wan Jie went to find Gong Keran. Chong Zi introduced herself as Luo Yinfan's disciple and Wan Jie's friend before leaving them to talk.
Gong Keran expressed that she was content with their current distant relationship, believing it kept them both safe. She also mentioned hearing that Wan Jie was undertaking a task for Demon King Wang Yue for her sake, which she felt was unnecessary. Wan Jie, however, asserted that merely knowing she was alive was not enough.
He confessed his deep feelings, proposing they start anew, far from the conflicts of both the immortal and demon realms, to live a life solely for each other. Gong Keran was deeply moved by his heartfelt declaration. Just as they were about to embrace, Yu Xuzi, accompanied by his disciples, appeared and surrounded them. Yu Xuzi immediately accused Gong Keran of colluding with Wan Jie, citing their presence together as undeniable proof.
Despite one of his disciples questioning the action against a member of Changsheng Palace, Yu Xuzi declared that anyone connected to Wan Jie must die, reminding his followers of the 3,000 disciples they needed to avenge. Capitalizing on Wan Jie's momentary distraction, Yu Xuzi launched a surprise attack on Gong Keran, severely wounding her. Chong Zi, realizing they were trapped, instinctively unleashed her Spirit Seal to fight Yu Xuzi and his disciples.
The Spirit Seal, growing stronger with opposition, overwhelmed Yu Xuzi, forcing him to watch as Chong Zi, Wan Jie, and the injured Gong Keran escaped. Wan Jie carried Gong Keran back to the Land of Tribulations. Gong Keran was astonished by the transformed landscape, observing the falling cherry blossoms, yet remained silent, returning to her room where she soon coughed up blood, aware that her time was limited.
Meanwhile, news of Chong Zi using the Spirit Seal to save Wan Jie and Gong Keran reached Nanhua. The Lord of Kunlun Sect dispatched a letter to Min Yunzhong regarding the matter. Min Yunzhong, however, promptly destroyed the letter and strictly ordered his subordinates not to reveal anything to Luo Yinfan, fearing that knowledge of Chong Zi's actions would compromise his judgment and further entangle him with her.
Yu Du warned Min Yunzhong that while he might try to control Chong Zi, he could not control Luo Yinfan's decisions. In a parallel effort, Yun Ji and her disciple Ting Xue undertook a perilous journey to Buzhou Mountain to retrieve a rare herb for Luo Yinfan. After a near-fatal fall, Yun Ji succeeded.
Ting Xue, however, questioned if her master's arduous efforts were worth it, feeling indignant that they were going to such lengths for the sake of Chong Zi. In the Land of Tribulations, Chong Zi noticed the continued distance between Wan Jie and Gong Keran and grew anxious for them. She sat beneath a tree, shaping mud figurines, reflecting on her own past with Luo Yinfan and how she regretted not expressing her feelings.
She wished her Master had someone to talk to on Zizhu Peak now. Back in Gong Keran's room, Chong Zi found her severely weakened from Yu Xuzi's deep, bone-penetrating strike. Gong Keran revealed her fatal injury, explaining she kept her distance from Wan Jie to spare him further sorrow. She admitted that she was not rejecting Wan Jie but rather preventing him from experiencing false hope followed by profound disappointment.
Chong Zi presented Gong Keran with the red wedding dress Wan Jie had bought, emphasizing Wan Jie's unwavering devotion; he cared for neither immortal nor demon boundaries, worldly opinions, nor even death—he cared only for her. Chong Zi pleaded with Gong Keran not to let her feelings remain unspoken, urging her not to repeat Chong Zi's own regrets. Chong Zi confided that after leaving Luo Yinfan, she realized how many words she had left unsaid.
She revealed that when poisoned by the Heart Poison, Luo Yinfan was all she could think of, the person she cared for most. She admitted Luo Yinfan was unaware of her feelings, and her biggest regret was her past timidity. If given another chance, she vowed to tell him everything without reservation.
Chong Zi stressed that inaction was more painful than a missed opportunity, but Gong Keran countered that with her limited time, she would only add to Wan Jie's worries. Chong Zi promised not to reveal Gong Keran's condition to Wan Jie, but implored her not to leave him with regrets. Far away, in Chonghua Palace, Luo Yinfan looked out, quietly wondering, "How is she?"
