The Journey of Chongzi Episode 25 Recap
> The Journey of Chongzi Recap
After Luo Yinfan shielded Chong Zi from Zhuo Hao's "Sea Flame" attack at the Six-world Monument, he gently asked if she was still in pain. Chong Zi, touched by the help from Zhuo Hao, Senior Qin Ke, and Zhenzhu, assured him she felt no pain, only gratitude.
She acknowledged her master’s dispute with Councilor Min Yunzhong and Lord Zhuo Yao because of her, expressing guilt, but Luo Yinfan reassured her that it was all worth it as long as she was safe and well. Later, Mu Yu visited Luo Yinfan. Luo Yinfan thanked him for his timely message, which saved Chong Zi from further harm. Mu Yu acknowledged Chong Zi's good character and stated he would have saved her for the sake of the immortal sect's righteousness.
He then inquired about Luo Yinfan's plans for the upcoming trial. He cautioned Luo Yinfan that although Lord Zhuo Yao had agreed not to pursue the matter further, the incident involved a demonic invasion within Nanhua Sect, and Councilor Min Yunzhong would thoroughly investigate. Luo Yinfan declared that he would not compromise if Chong Zi were to be harmed again.
Mu Yu then gently explained that traces of Sha Yihuan were found in Chong Zi's room, making it difficult to clear her name quickly. He warned that continued conflict between Luo Yinfan and Min Yunzhong would only hurt Chong Zi further. Mu Yu suggested that Min Yunzhong’s anger wasn't truly directed at Luo Yinfan, but rather stemmed from a belief that Chong Zi's presence was influencing Luo Yinfan, leading him to abandon his righteous principles, especially after Zhuo Yunji's death.
This, Mu Yu believed, was why Min Yunzhong relentlessly targeted Chong Zi. Luo Yinfan pondered if protecting Chong Zi had become a mistake. Luo Yinfan then sought solitude in the ancestral hall, standing before a portrait of his master. He lamented that his efforts to protect Chong Zi always seemed to backfire. He recalled his past failure in her first life, where she nearly died by his hand despite his guidance toward kindness.
In this life, his attempts to conceal her identity and keep her under strict watch had only led her into deeper trouble. He questioned if his greatest error was selfishly wanting to keep her by his side, desperately seeking a way to protect her and the world simultaneously. His master's words, echoing from the portrait, reminded him of the profound truth in observing the world, hinting at the clarity that comes from perception.
Meanwhile, the Demon King, aware of Sha Yihuan’s inadequate cultivation, noted that the current complications might ironically lead to a favorable outcome for their plans. He dismissed his subordinates' confusion, telling them to simply watch the unfolding drama. He commented on the effectiveness of Sha Yihuan and Tian Zhixie in causing Zhuo Yunji's death, and acknowledged his subordinate's contribution. The Demon King found it amusing that Chong Zi remained oblivious to the manipulation by those closest to her.
At the Liuhe Hall trial, Min Yunzhong interrogated Chong Zi about colluding with demons to murder Zhuo Yunji. Chong Zi vehemently denied the accusations, asserting she had not killed Zhuo Yunji and would never conspire with demons. Ting Xue, however, claimed that she and her master had come to Nanhua to discuss her marriage to Luo Yinfan, a plan that tragically ended with her master's death.
She accused Chong Zi of being jealous of the marriage and murdering Zhuo Yunji, stating Chong Zi harbored improper feelings for her own master. Chong Zi refuted this, declaring her deep respect for Zhuo Yunji as a benevolent immortal and for Luo Yinfan, stating her feelings for him were only respect and admiration.
Ting Xue pressed her to reveal her conversation with Zhuo Yunji the night before her death, but Chong Zi hesitated, realizing that disclosing the truth would reveal her true affections for Luo Yinfan. Seeing her silence, Ting Xue further accused Chong Zi of having evil intentions and guilt, pointing out that Chong Zi was the only one who showed coldness to Zhuo Yunji despite receiving great favors.
Ting Xue then suggested Chong Zi was the spy who colluded with demons to kill Zhuo Yunji, or even Sha Yihuan herself. Chong Zi, admitting to having strange dreams where she was instigated to kill Zhuo Yunji, insisted she never had such intentions. Sima Miaoyuan immediately seized on this, accusing Chong Zi of letting the demon into Nanhua or being Sha Yihuan.
Luo Yinfan intervened, arguing that Ting Xue's claims were mere speculation without solid proof, and that they couldn't convict Chong Zi based on hearsay alone. Sima Miaoyuan countered by highlighting Chong Zi’s admission about the dreams. Min Yunzhong, furious at his authority being challenged, declared that everyone had been misled by Chong Zi, and vowed to "clean house" in Nanhua.
Luo Yinfan, seeing no other immediate solution given Chong Zi’s inability to fully clear her name, proposed sending her to Kunlun's Ice Prison. He reasoned that the prison’s strict isolation from demonic energy would either expose any demonic contacts she had or, if she were Sha Yihuan, her body would be unable to withstand the conditions, thereby revealing the truth. If she survived, her innocence would be proven.
Min Yunzhong, though suspicious of Luo Yinfan's true motives, agreed to the plan but insisted on spreading the news that Nanhua had captured a demon spy to provoke a reaction from the demon realm. Luo Yinfan dismissed this as unnecessary. Chong Zi, trusting her master, quietly agreed to the arrangement. Luo Yinfan later confided in Mu Yu that he would not personally see Chong Zi off to the Ice Prison.
He explained that he had deeply reflected on Mu Yu’s earlier words, realizing his fervent protection might have caused Chong Zi more harm. He believed sending her to the Ice Prison would not only prove her innocence but also shield her from further demonic schemes within Nanhua. Mu Yu expressed sympathy for Chong Zi, noting the suffering she would endure. Luo Yinfan admitted that Chong Zi's unwavering trust, even in this difficult decision, made his heart ache.
He entrusted both Mu Yu and Qin Ke with Chong Zi's care during the journey and asked Mu Yu to visit her frequently. Before she entered the prison, Qin Ke assured Chong Zi that he, along with others, would work to find the true Sha Yihuan, hoping for her swift release.
Chong Zi, resigned, acknowledged that this outcome was better than expected and stated she would treat her time in the Ice Prison as meditation, though she felt a pang of sadness that her master hadn't come to see her off. Meanwhile, at Yunji's grave, Zhuo Yao swore to avenge his sister, promising to turn Nanhua and even the entire immortal realm upside down until the murderer paid in blood.
Back at Nanhua, Luo Yinfan secluded himself on Zizhu Peak to practice the Mirror Heart Skill. Zhuo Hao expressed his frustration to Qin Ke, questioning Luo Yinfan's sudden withdrawal after promising to find evidence to clear Chong Zi's name. Qin Ke, however, believed Luo Yinfan had a deeper reason and that he would not abandon Chong Zi.
He calmly explained that the Ice Prison, despite its harshness, provided a necessary isolation from demons and a political explanation to the immortal sects, making it a safer place for Chong Zi than Nanhua. Zhuo Hao remained unconvinced, furious that Chong Zi had to suffer unjustly, and vowed to act if Luo Yinfan continued his inaction.
Qin Ke, while sharing Zhuo Hao’s desire to save Chong Zi, acknowledged that only Luo Yinfan was the person Chong Zi truly wished to see, advocating for patience. Despite his lingering resentment, Zhuo Hao reluctantly agreed to trust Luo Yinfan one last time. In the Ice Prison, Chong Zi frequently suffered from nightmares, which she perceived as the demon realm trying to lure her.
She saw a cloaked figure calling her "Young Master," similar to the events before Zhuo Yunji's death, and wished to inform her master. Sima Miaoyuan, tasked with guarding her, taunted Chong Zi, asserting that no one ever left the Ice Prison and that her suffering was deserved. She claimed even Luo Yinfan had given up on her. Knowing Yue Qiao's ill intentions, Sima Miaoyuan created an opportunity for him to approach Chong Zi.
Yue Qiao visited, ostensibly bringing warming herbs, and after Sima Miaoyuan left, he offered to inform Luo Yinfan of Chong Zi's plight if she "repaid him." When Chong Zi, suspended by chains pierced through her shoulder blades, refused his advances, Yue Qiao became aggressive, attempting to assault her. During the struggle, Chong Zi’s pendant, which suppressed her evil breath, was knocked off.
With the pendant gone, Chong Zi's inborn evil breath erupted, her eyes darkening with rage as she lashed out at Yue Qiao. However, her injuries and spiritual exhaustion led her to collapse. Sima Miaoyuan arrived shortly after, finding Yue Qiao fleeing in terror, covered in evil breath, and muttering about Chong Zi being a "monster." Sima Miaoyuan immediately suspected something amiss. A celestial anomaly in the southeast alerted Min Yunzhong and other elders, who then rushed to Kunlun's Ice Prison.
They found Chong Zi engulfed in evil breath. Min Yunzhong, recognizing this as the demon qi he had once seen, realized Luo Yinfan's deception. He confronted Luo Yinfan, accusing him of bringing Chong Zi back to Chonghua Palace after personally beheading her in her previous life, thus deceiving everyone and harboring a demon within Nanhua. Min Yunzhong, enraged, prepared to kill Chong Zi again.
At that critical moment, Luo Yinfan appeared, his expression impassive, and swiftly intervened, embracing Chong Zi and walking away. He stated he would explain everything later. Chong Zi, overwhelmed by fear and emotional distress from her ordeal, clung to her master. She tearfully questioned why she was being targeted, asking about the "evil breath" and her true identity.
Luo Yinfan, acknowledging his deception, revealed that she was born with evil breath, a trait shared by Demon King Ni Lun, which made her a target for both demons and immortals alike. He apologized for his misguided attempt to hide her identity, confessing his selfish desire to keep her by his side. When Chong Zi asked if he needed her or feared the demons, he simply replied, "I need you." Chong Zi then pleaded with him not to abandon her.
Luo Yinfan held her close, vowing to protect both Chong Zi and the common people, promising never to leave her, now or in the future. After ensuring Chong Zi was safe, Luo Yinfan confronted Min Yunzhong, explaining that he had sealed Chong Zi's evil breath with a pendant not to protect her, but to maintain stability within the immortal sect and prevent demons from exploiting the situation.
He acknowledged that the matter of Chong Zi's evil breath could be discussed, but insisted that Yue Qiao's attempted sexual assault must be thoroughly investigated and severely punished to uphold the integrity of the immortal sect. Min Yunzhong, having been put in a difficult position, summoned Sima Miaoyuan and Yue Qiao. Luo Yinfan, enraged, severely injured Yue Qiao but spared his life out of consideration for his status as Tianshan Sect's head disciple.
Min Yunzhong, finding Sima Miaoyuan guilty of dereliction of duty and tarnishing Nanhua's reputation, ordered her immortal bones removed and exiled her to guard Poison Island for three years for self-reflection. Sima Miaoyuan's desperate pleas were futile, and her hatred for Chong Zi intensified. Mu Yu warned her to be cautious after her punishment. With these disciplinary matters settled, Min Yunzhong turned back to the issue of Chong Zi's fate.
Luo Yinfan assured him that he would not endanger the Six Realms. He proposed sending Chong Zi back to the Ice Prison to deep sleep until he mastered the Mirror Heart Skill, which would then completely eradicate her evil breath.
