The Journey of Chongzi Episode 3 Recap
> The Journey of Chongzi Recap
Chong Zi, having secretly ventured down Zizhu Peak, first encountered Sima Miaoyuan and her peers. Miaoyuan, now a respected disciple of Patriarch Min Yunzhong, held Chong Zi in disdain, and Chong Zi endured some humiliation from them. Feeling upset, Chong Zi then met Qin Ke, who recognized her and greeted her. Qin Ke asked why she had been "hiding" on Zizhu Peak all these years, to which Chong Zi claimed she was diligently practicing breathing methods.
Qin Ke revealed that all other disciples began learning various immortal techniques right after the mentorship ceremony, making Chong Zi realize she was the only one who hadn't learned any spells. He then showed her his magic weapon, the Bahuang Sword, and took her on a flight. As they flew over Nanhua Peak, Chong Zi was impressed and asked how she could get such a weapon, lamenting that her master hadn't given her one.
They landed in the Immortal Fruit Forest, where Qin Ke explained that the crimson bead fruits, rumored to be from the God World, could enhance spiritual power and were typically reserved for sect leaders, forbidden to ordinary disciples. No sooner had Qin Ke finished speaking than Chong Zi plucked and ate a crimson bead, immediately alerting a forest guard. Qin Ke, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly pulled Chong Zi into hiding.
Chong Zi, however, was unconcerned, even offering to share the forbidden fruit, believing a simple apology to the elders would suffice. She mentioned her master, Luo Yinfan, as the person who cared for her most, and worried about his disappointment. Their attempt to escape was thwarted when they encountered Sima Miaoyuan, who immediately chastised Chong Zi for stealing, calling her a "beggar" incapable of changing her thieving habits.
Chong Zi adamantly denied stealing, pointing out she ate it openly in front of Qin Ke. Qin Ke tried to defend her, explaining Chong Zi's ignorance of the rules, but Miaoyuan was unyielding, stating that three years at Nanhua should have taught her basic etiquette. Miaoyuan then attempted to forcibly take Chong Zi to the Patriarch's Hall for punishment. At that moment, Mu Yu intervened.
Recognizing Chong Zi as Sage Chonghua's disciple, he decided to overlook the incident this time, attributing it to her ignorance of the rules and warning her not to repeat it. Miaoyuan protested, arguing that punishment was necessary for a lesson. Mu Yu, however, redirected his scolding towards Qin Ke for taking Chong Zi to a restricted area and showing off his skills, sentencing him to copy scriptures.
He then instructed Miaoyuan not to involve Patriarch Min Yunzhong in such matters, but to report directly to him. Mu Yu confirmed that Luo Yinfan would handle the matter of the crimson bead. After Qin Ke and Sima Miaoyuan left, Mu Yu spoke with Chong Zi. He observed her growth but noted her lack of familiarity with Nanhua's rules.
Chong Zi expressed her disappointment, feeling she knew no rules or spells, unlike her peers, and recounted how Miaoyuan had mocked her for never visiting the Patriarch's Hall, making her feel unworthy of being a sage's disciple. Mu Yu, assuring her that a sage's disciple's status was beyond private discussion, offered to take her to the Patriarch's Hall.
Inside the hall, as Chong Zi looked at the portraits of ancestors and the altar, she noticed the Tianmo Token suspended in the center, emanating a faint dark red glow. Mu Yu explained it was a sealed token from a Demon King of the Demon World.
Despite his reassurance that she, as a Nanhua cultivator, should be impervious to evil and that the token was sealed, the sight instilled deep fear in Chong Zi, causing her to quickly depart, unable to linger. Returning to Chonghua Palace, Chong Zi anticipated a severe reprimand from her master. Instead, Luo Yinfan, already informed by Mu Yu, seemed more annoyed with Sima Miaoyuan and Qin Ke.
He dismissed Miaoyuan's exaggeration, asserting that nothing on Nanhua Mountain was off-limits to his disciple, and even promised to refine the crimson bead into a pill to boost her spiritual energy. Overjoyed, Chong Zi thanked him, proclaiming his kindness. Luo Yinfan then laid down the second rule for Zizhu Peak: "Don't be aggressive outside, don't bully others, and don't be bullied by others."
Chong Zi readily agreed, and, gaining his permission, happily contemplated going down the mountain, though he warned her against causing trouble. She then voiced her concern about her lack of spells compared to other disciples. Luo Yinfan calmly explained that while others would eventually leave Nanhua, she would always remain by his side, thus rendering such skills unnecessary for her.
To further lighten her mood, he produced pastries from Xichun Restaurant, which Chong Zi recognized and delighted in, finding them as delicious as she remembered. Luo Yinfan affectionately chided her for eating messily. When Chong Zi accused him of "coaxing" her, Luo Yinfan retorted, playfully asking if she intended to leave him. Chong Zi quickly denied it, vowing never to depart from his side.
That night, Chong Zi awoke from a nightmare, the image of the Tianmo Token haunting her, leaving her deeply unsettled. Meanwhile, Sima Miaoyuan confronted Qin Ke, noticing his distraction since Chong Zi's outing and suggesting he was preoccupied with her. Qin Ke denied it, expressing genuine concern for Chong Zi's future in the Immortal World if she remained without any spells, feeling helpless to assist her.
Miaoyuan, however, cautioned him to steer clear of Chong Zi, labeling her a troublesome beggar with an inborn evil breath. Later, Yu Du visited Luo Yinfan. He remarked on Chong Zi’s recent outing from Zizhu Peak, with Luo Yinfan jokingly claiming he found her too noisy. Yu Du expressed concern that Chong Zi remained ignorant of any spells, unlike her peers, and feared she might feel uneasy or paranoid.
Luo Yinfan, acknowledging that her lack of spells was initially desired by others, reassured Yu Du that Chong Zi's evil breath had not manifested while she was with him, thus dispelling fears of her harming anyone. He confided that while he did worry about her lack of skills, he found comfort in knowing she would always remain by his side. Yu Du then mused that Luo Yinfan's profound spells had no inheritor and suggested he consider taking more disciples.
Luo Yinfan, however, firmly stated that Chong Zi was his sole disciple. Eager to surprise her master, Chong Zi slipped into a bamboo grove to carve a wooden pendant, hoping to show him how much she had matured. Before she could finish, a divine beast, Suanni, attacked, shattering the pendant. Enraged, Chong Zi’s inborn evil breath flared uncontrollably. However, recalling her master's teachings—"not to kill, not to harm others, or the innocent"—she quickly suppressed the dark energy.
Luo Yinfan, alerted by the commotion, arrived just in time. He addressed the beast as Suanni and gently inquired if Chong Zi was hurt. Chong Zi, protective of the creature, blamed herself for intruding into the forbidden grove. Luo Yinfan explained that he had rescued Suanni from the Demon World a century ago, and though wild, it was kind-hearted, tasked with guarding Zizhu Peak.
He praised Chong Zi for her self-control, assuring her that sustained good intentions could eventually dissipate her evil breath. Chong Zi then recounted an earlier encounter with a benevolent "Mr. Immortal" in white, who had placed a protective spell on her that eventually faded.
Luo Yinfan sadly implied that this "Mr. Immortal" was no longer in the world, explaining that while immortals do not easily die, a great catastrophe occurred when the Ni Lun sword was stolen and the Demon King Wan Jie emerged, leading to the massacre of three thousand disciples. Luo Yinfan then asked Chong Zi if she remembered the man’s appearance or if he carried a sword, to which she only recalled his striking resemblance to her master.
A flashback reveals Wan Jie, presumably the former Chu Bufu, effortlessly overpowering a group of cultivators who attempted to seize the Ni Lun sword from him. He fiercely declared his intent to retrieve Gong Keran. Back in the present, Chong Zi confided in Luo Yinfan that she came to Nanhua inspired by "Mr. Immortal's" encouragement to learn spells and protect those she cared for. She asked if he, too, had someone he wished to protect.
Luo Yinfan stated that immortals traditionally safeguard all living beings, but Chong Zi expressed her desire to protect Dou from harm and, more importantly, to protect Luo Yinfan himself, fearing he might meet the same fate as "Mr. Immortal." Luo Yinfan assured her of his resilience. Frustrated by her powerlessness, Chong Zi lamented that if he refused to teach her spells, she would never be strong enough to protect him should he face danger.
Luo Yinfan promised that such a scenario would not unfold and then asked if she wished to revisit the mortal world. He subsequently accompanied her to Panhai Town. Three years had passed, and the town had transformed from its former desolation into a bustling, prosperous hub, much to Chong Zi's surprise. Despite their search, Dou was nowhere to be found, leaving Chong Zi disheartened. Luo Yinfan consoled her, suggesting they could continue their search another time.
They then visited Xichun Restaurant, where Chong Zi fondly recounted a childhood memory of Dou stealing a lotus seed pastry for her, only for it to be snatched away, leaving them to contentedly lick the crumbs. She eagerly pressed Luo Yinfan to try the restaurant's pastries, which he admitted were indeed delicious. Chong Zi, emboldened, asked to try wine, and Luo Yinfan indulged her. She found the wine surprisingly spicy but, enjoying herself immensely, soon became delightfully drunk.
As Chong Zi, now fully inebriated, jovially clutched her wine pot and tried to persuade Luo Yinfan to drink more, a commotion erupted at an adjacent table. A wealthy young man was aggressively forcing a woman, named Hong Dou, to drink and then began to hit her. Without hesitation, Chong Zi charged over to intervene, scolding the man and defending Hong Dou.
When the man retaliated, Chong Zi fought back, unbeknownst to her, Luo Yinfan discreetly provided magical assistance, rendering the man's blows harmless. Realizing he was outmatched, the rich young man threw some money on the table and hastily fled the restaurant. The rescued woman, Hong Dou, found Chong Zi staring intently at her. Chong Zi commented that Hong Dou looked familiar, like a friend, but she couldn't quite recall who.
Hong Dou, who was actually Dou and had recognized Chong Zi, felt immense shame at her fallen state and quickly turned to flee. Later, Luo Yinfan observed Chong Zi’s reckless nature and declared that he must teach her some defensive spells, as he could not be at ease otherwise. Still heavily inebriated, Chong Zi continued to gaze at Luo Yinfan, finding him exceedingly handsome. Feeling flushed, Chong Zi expressed a desire for fresh air.
Luo Yinfan, sensing the sudden appearance of Chu Bufu, now known as Wan Jie, in Panhai Town, instructed Chong Zi to wait for him while he went to investigate. However, disobediently, Chong Zi followed him. She almost got caught in a skirmish, narrowly avoiding a strike from Chu Bufu. Thinking quickly, she declared herself an immortal of Nanhua and a disciple of Sage Chonghua, Luo Yinfan, warning him that her master would not spare him if he harmed her.
Luo Yinfan appeared, confronting Chu Bufu and demanding he return with him. Chu Bufu defiantly refused, shouting, "You wish!" before making his escape. Chong Zi, bewildered, questioned Luo Yinfan as to why he hadn't pursued Chu Bufu. He simply instructed her to return to Chonghua Palace immediately. Back at the palace, Yu Du and other elders were discussing the alarming situation.
It was revealed that the Ming Palace Lord had sent an urgent plea for help to the immortal sects after Wan Jie (Chu Bufu) murdered a disciple and publicly vowed to abduct Gong Keran. Gong Keran was now hidden in the supposedly impregnable Dragon Abyss of the East Sea. The plan was to use Lord Zhuo Yao's birthday celebration at Qinghua Palace as an opportunity to ambush Wan Jie and reclaim the demon sword.
Luo Yinfan volunteered to represent Nanhua at the event, asserting that his understanding of Wan Jie's tactics surpassed that of anyone else. Yu Du reluctantly agreed, hinting at the complex, shared history between Luo Yinfan and Wan Jie. Luo Yinfan, preparing for his journey, selected a rare Nine-time Refined Elixir, a treasure that took a century to craft, as a birthday gift for Lord Zhuo Yao.
He decided Chong Zi would present it, intending to take her to Qinghua Palace with him to keep her close and out of trouble. Meanwhile, Luo Yinfan’s prolonged absence in Chonghua Palace worried Chong Zi, so she went to find him. Outside a room, she overheard a tense conversation between Luo Yinfan, Min Yunzhong, and Yu Du.
Min Yunzhong vehemently argued that Chong Zi's inborn evil breath posed a severe threat, and teaching her immortal techniques would inevitably lead to disaster. He proposed a drastic measure: sending her into the Sifang Furnace to have her primordial spirit scattered, thus eternally confining her to Nanhua. Luo Yinfan fiercely resisted, asserting his authority over his disciple's fate and revealing his intention to teach Chong Zi defensive spells to protect herself when he wasn't there.
Yu Du, while not fully supporting Luo Yinfan, found Min Yunzhong's proposal too cruel and suggested relocating Chong Zi to the countryside, away from worldly conflicts. Unable to listen further, Chong Zi burst into the room. She declared her refusal to leave, citing her master’s need for her care. With dramatic flair, she exaggerated Luo Yinfan's messy habits—his drinking, chaotic pharmacy, and scattered clothes—claiming she was indispensable in managing Chonghua Palace.
Luo Yinfan, with a hint of amusement, corroborated her efforts, which only fueled Chong Zi's theatrical pledge of lifelong devotion to him. Min Yunzhong, left speechless by the combined efforts of Luo Yinfan and Chong Zi, ultimately retreated, allowing Luo Yinfan to proceed with his decision to teach Chong Zi protective spells, trusting her good nature would prevent her from evil. Later, Chong Zi confronted Luo Yinfan, accusing him of wavering on whether to send her away.
She theatrically threatened to wreak havoc—pouring ink into the Four Seas, setting Zizhu Peak ablaze—and expose his personal eccentricities, such as his private drinking and secret fishing trips with Yu Du, branding him as the "Drunkard Sage" or "Blind Sage." Luo Yinfan offered her a sweet-tasting elixir, explaining it was specially prepared with purple stamen honey, and playfully remarked that she couldn't possibly sabotage Nanhua if she was "eating his."
Chong Zi defiantly declared she would only leave Zizhu Peak over her dead body. Luo Yinfan chided her for speaking so lightly of life and death, yet conceded that Zizhu Peak would indeed lose its vibrancy without her. He then gave her an elixir to boost her cultivation and informed her that she would accompany him to Qinghua Palace to personally present the precious Nine-time Refined Elixir as a birthday gift.
Chong Zi, thrilled, expressed profound gratitude for meeting him, believing all her past hardships were worth it. Luo Yinfan, in turn, wished he had met her earlier, so she wouldn't have endured such a difficult path. Meanwhile, Wang Yue visited Chu Bufu, now known as Wan Jie, at his secluded abode, apologizing for intruding.
Wang Yue attempted to persuade him to return to the opulent Demon God Hall, promising pleasures like music and beautiful women, arguing that Wan Jie's current lonely existence was ill-suited for him. However, Wan Jie angrily rebuffed Wang Yue, asserting that he had never belonged to them and questioning how he could feel grateful, given that it was Wang Yue's manipulative schemes that had led to his current demonic transformation.
A flashback revealed the tragic past: Chu Bufu, as a young man, was defending Gong Keran. His master, grievously wounded, urged him to protect the Ni Lun sword from falling into demonic hands before succumbing to his injuries. Chu Bufu then valiantly confronted Tian Zhixie, the formidable Protector of the Demon Palace, but was ultimately outmatched and severely injured, an event that marked his descent into the demonic path.
