Resumen, trama, sinopsis de Generation to Generation

Sinopsis de Generation to Generation

Mu Qingyan, a decisive and scheming dual-faced young master, and Cai Zhao, a carefree and insightful "Buddha-like" heroine, engage in an intense push-and-pull dynamic that gives rise to a bittersweet yet passionate romance. In the treacherous and ever-changing world of the martial arts (jianghu), the two join forces to tear off the "masks" of various figures within the martial world. Along the way, they clash in love and hate, navigate endless twists and turns, and outwit their opponents, painting a vivid portrait of a community of warriors brimming with humanity and a strong sense of justice.

Resúmenes de Generation to Generation

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Two hundred years ago, during a period of great turmoil, Founder Beichen sacrificed himself to suppress a demon, leading his disciples to establish the Six Sects of Beichen to maintain order. Fifteen years ago, the martial arts world was again bathed in blood by Nie Hengcheng, the Chief of the Li Sect. It was the heroic Cai Pingshu of Luoying Valley who ended his tyranny by sacrificing her own life in a final battle at Mount Tu.

Her niece, Cai Zhao, grew up watching her aunt linger on her deathbed, leading her to shun the "curse of the demoness" that had historically plagued the women of her valley. While her predecessors were known for consorting with beasts or eloping with villains, Cai Zhao preferred a life of leisure and gossip novels.

In the picturesque Luoying Valley, Cai Zhao’s parents, Cai Pingchun and Ning Xiaofeng, decided to send her to the Qingque Sect to study martial arts for one year, fulfilling her aunt’s final wish. Despite being the "Great Manager" of the local businesses and pleading with her mother to stay, Cai Zhao was eventually forced into a carriage. Meanwhile, ten hours prior, the Chang clan had been massacred at Chang Fort.

Cai Pingchun and the Qingque Sect Leader, Qi Yunke, arrived to find a scene of devastation. They rescued the sole survivor, Chang Ning, who had spent the night fighting beside his father’s corpse. Chang Ning was riddled with at least five rare toxins, and because the poison had reached his vital organs, Qi Yunke decided to bring the boy back to his own sect for specialized treatment.

A month later, Cai Zhao arrived at the Qingque Sect, located atop the treacherous Thousandfold Cliff. Accompanied by Yang Xiaolan of the Siqi Sect, she marveled at the scenery until she stumbled upon a confrontation. Qi Lingbo, the arrogant daughter of the Sect Leader, was harassing Chang Ning. She demanded a bowl of his "heart blood" as compensation for a Snow Lotus Pill she claimed he had taken.

Chang Ning, though physically weak and having lost his internal power, remained defiant. He reminded Qi Lingbo that her family and the other Beichen sects owed their lives to his father’s past sacrifices, including saving her grandfather and the sects from the demon cult. Cai Zhao intervened to protect Chang Ning, using her aunt Cai Pingshu’s legendary reputation to intimidate Qi Lingbo.

She cleverly argued that having a conscience was more important than following the rigid rules Qi Lingbo claimed to uphold. The situation was eventually defused when Song Yuzhi, Qi Lingbo’s fiancé, arrived to lead her away. Later, Qi Yunke and the elders, including the Sect Leader of the Song clan, discussed the tragedy at Chang Fort. They suspected that the demon sect, dormant for fifteen years, was stirring again to search for a hidden treasure within the Chang estate.

While Qi Yunke worked hard to treat Chang Ning, his wife, Yin Sulian, remained cold and dismissive of the boy's plight, favoring her daughter instead. Cai Zhao was settled into a luxurious residence called Chunling Cottage, an arrangement made by Qi Yunke that sparked envy among other disciples. Her fifth senior brother, Fan Xingjia, noted the Sect Leader’s unique favor toward her. Despite her claims that she didn't like martial arts, Cai Zhao’s luggage was filled with Jianghu romance novels.

The next day, Qi Yunke established a strict training regimen, including meditation at the Yin hour and a rule of "no eating after noon." Believing Cai Zhao was unskilled, Qi Lingbo attempted to provoke her again by "gifting" her a whip and forcing a spar. To everyone's surprise, Cai Zhao displayed exceptional martial skills and easily defeated her, piquing the interest of Song Yuzhi. However, Cai Zhao remained wary of Chang Ning.

She noticed he acted submissive toward the Sect Leader while remaining cold and calculating in private. That night, she visited him with medicine to probe his identity, questioning him about his childhood asthma and his father’s old nickname, "Nanny Chang." As Chang Ning explained his father's sacrifices and his own struggle to survive, assassins launched a sudden attack, filling the room with knockout smoke and plunging them both into immediate danger.

Following the ambush, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning were captured and imprisoned in a wooden box suspended precariously over a deep abyss. Though Chang Ning was immobilized because his Fengfu acupoint had been sealed, Cai Zhao managed to free him. After coordinating their movements, they burst out of the box, only to be pursued relentlessly by black-clad assassins.

During the chase, Chang Ning nearly plummeted off a cliff, but Cai Zhao risked her life to hold onto him until Song Yuzhi arrived with reinforcements to pull them to safety. Back at the Qingque Sect, Chang Ning remained in a state of suffering due to his persistent poison. Qi Yunke expressed deep remorse for failing to protect Cai Zhao.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the assassins had murdered several locals and entered the sect disguised as guards from the Guangtian Sect. Recognizing the threat to the upcoming Patriarch’s ritual, Qi Yunke ordered a total lockdown of the mountain. Meanwhile, Qi Lingbo, bitter over her previous defeat, egged on her fourth senior brother, Ding Zhuo—a martial arts fanatic—to challenge Cai Zhao.

However, Cai Zhao had no interest in a formal duel; she launched a swift preemptive strike and defeated him instantly. When Qi Lingbo accused her of cheating, Cai Zhao countered that in a life-or-death struggle, an enemy would not wait for ceremonies like bathing or burning incense. Later, the group visited the Double Lotus Palace, the luxurious residence of Yin Sulian. Its opulence stood in stark contrast to the sect’s official stance on simple living.

While Yin Sulian put on a show of maternal care and offered Cai Zhao a bracelet, Chang Ning openly confronted her. He selected a phoenix blood jade from her treasures, noting it was originally his family’s property. He then exposed how his father had once overheard Yin Sulian cursing his aunt, Cai Pingshu, and suggested that her death was linked to the Yin family's actions.

A heated conflict was only avoided when Qi Yunke arrived to mediate, urging his wife to be more tolerant of the traumatized youth. Qi Yunke then led Cai Zhao to the back of the mountain to see the Withered Branch, a rare plant Cai Pingshu had used to help him increase his inner power when he was a bullied outer disciple.

He encouraged Cai Zhao to grow strong, explaining that strength is the only path to true freedom and justice in the Jianghu. That night, Chang Ning used special pollen to draw Trace Butterflies to the Chunling Cottage, creating a beautiful display for Cai Zhao. He admitted he only truly trusted her amidst the sect's hidden dangers and requested to move into the cottage for protection.

Under the guidance of Lei Xiuming, a renowned healer and old friend of Cai Pingshu, Cai Zhao performed acupuncture on Chang Ning. During the treatment, she discovered he possessed an unnaturally complex and vast inner power. Chang Ning explained this was the result of a "poison against poison" method used to save his life as a sickly child. Once his bandages were removed, Cai Zhao was momentarily stunned by his handsome features.

However, her suspicions remained; she used "Truth Teller" incense in his medicine to see if he was hiding anything. This caused Chang Ning to fall into a violent delirium where he relived his father's death. The next morning, to secure her ongoing protection, Chang Ning proposed a deal: if she kept him safe within the sect, he would give her all the hidden wealth his father had left behind.

The pair's living arrangement at the Chunling Cottage soon sparked scandalous rumors. When Qi Lingbo arrived to mock their supposed intimacy, Cai Zhao effortlessly used her wit to insult her and drive her away. Eventually, Chang Ning hinted that the 19th Sect Leader, Yin Dai, might have been the one who manipulated Cai Pingshu into her final, fatal mission. Driven to find the truth, Cai Zhao snuck into the Library at night.

After navigating the Four Symbols Xuanji Array, she realized that while Qi Yunke was the 20th leader, the handbook of the 19th leader, Yin Dai, was missing. As she searched, Chang Ning suddenly appeared. Before they could speak, a mysterious shadow loomed outside, and the heavy iron door slammed shut, trapping them both inside.

Cai Zhao and Chang Ning’s covert search in the Library nearly ends in disaster when they are almost discovered by the observant Song Yuzhi. Afterward, Cai Zhao grows suspicious, questioning if Chang Ning has been using her to locate Yin Dai’s handbook. In response, Chang Ning solemnly reveals the secret within: the "Great Demonic Disintegration Art."

This forbidden technique, which Cai Pingshu used to kill the demon Nie Hengcheng, grants immense power but causes the user’s meridians to rupture, leading to a slow and agonizing death. Cai Zhao is left haunted by the realization that her aunt sacrificed herself, and she wonders why the 19th-generation handbook was the only one missing from the sect's records. The next day, Cai Zhao comforts her junior sister, Yang Xiaolan, who is discouraged by her slow progress in martial arts.

Later, Cai Zhao questions Lei Xiuming about the forbidden art. Though visibly rattled, he feigns ignorance but gives her a calming pouch for Chang Ning. Tensions rise further when Song Yuzhi confronts Chang Ning about his whereabouts, having found calming powder in the Library. Cai Zhao quickly provides an alibi, claiming she was searching for late-night snack recipes and accidentally spilled the powder.

To uncover the truth hidden within the waterways of the Double Lotus Palace, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning hatch a plan for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Cai Zhao subtly encourages a senior disciple to buy cheap Xuan paper for the lanterns. Unbeknownst to him, this paper is made from Qingtan, which attracts toxic Guming Moths. During the celebration, the moths descend, causing mass panic and hallucinations.

Seizing the chaos, Chang Ning fakes a mental breakdown, attacking Qi Lingbo while raving about avenging the Chang clan. Lei Xiuming watches the scene with indifference, believing the arrogant Qi Lingbo could benefit from a little suffering. As Cai Zhao pretends to lead the "mad" Chang Ning away, they are intercepted by Yin Sulian’s formidable servant, Nanny Mao. Despite a thorough search, the expert nanny finds nothing on Cai Zhao.

The handbook had already been secured with the help of Yang Xiaolan; during a staged fall into the lake, the book was hidden beneath the water. Once retrieved, the text confirms their darkest fears: Yin Dai forced Cai Pingshu to master the suicidal art to save the six sects. Upon learning of the discovery, Qi Yunke chooses to burn the handbook to bury the shameful past and maintain peace.

However, Chang Ning has already committed the technique to memory, fueled by his thirst for revenge. When Yin Sulian and Song Yuzhi later go to the hiding spot, they are enraged to find the book gone. Meanwhile, a devastated Cai Zhao confronts Qi Yunke, asking why he didn't save her aunt. He can only admit his helplessness at the time. In the days following, Qi Lingbo continues to bully Cai Zhao out of jealousy over Song Yuzhi.

Song intervenes, reminding Lingbo that the sect owes Cai Zhao a debt of gratitude, which only further incenses the young woman. Fearing Chang Ning might follow her aunt's path, Cai Zhao tearfully recounts the horror of Cai Pingshu's final thirteen years of agony, which ended when she was only thirty. Moved by her grief, Chang Ning swears a solemn oath never to use the Disintegration art.

Despite the loss of the physical handbook, Yin Sulian remains obsessed with her plan to have Qi Lingbo marry Song Yuzhi so he can inherit the sect and her father’s legacy. A brief moment of peace returns when Chang Ning prepares wontons for Cai Zhao that taste exactly like her aunt’s. Touched, she suggests they eventually retire to Luoying Valley to open a shop together.

However, this dream is shattered when an old steward from the Chang clan arrives at the Dusk Palace with a young man named Jiang Ning. The steward claims that this newcomer is the true Chang Ning, throwing the identity of Cai Zhao's companion into immediate question.

The tension at the Qingque Sect reaches a breaking point when Song Shijun, leader of the Guangtian Sect, brings forward a newcomer named Jiang Ning to challenge Chang Ning’s identity. Jiang Ning presents himself with calculated precision, recounting intimate details of the Chang family, such as his mother’s Suzhou origins, her birthday on the sixteenth day of the eleventh month, and her fondness for Furong Thousand-Layer Pastry.

To solidify his claim, he reveals a striking burn scar on his left arm, which he attributes to a fireplace accident sixteen years ago while his father was away assisting the heroine Cai Pingshu. The Chang Ning currently residing at the sect remains remarkably composed. He counters by questioning Jiang Ning about a hidden word marked on the third shelf of the family study and challenges the newcomer to reveal a dog-bite scar on his leg.

As the assembly wavers, Sect Leader Qi Yunke suggests a duel using the Chang family’s signature Willow Sword technique. However, Chang Ning explains that his father kept him sheltered due to his lifelong frailty, permitting him only to practice internal cultivation to strengthen his meridians rather than combat arts. Unimpressed, the elder Li Wenxun decides on a more intrusive method: a direct trial of their internal power.

He forcibly injects his energy into both men, causing Chang Ning to vomit blood due to his existing poison and injuries, while Jiang Ning loses consciousness. Both are taken to the medicine hut under the care of Lei Shumo. That night, Cai Zhao’s younger brother, Hanhan, overhears a terrifying conversation in the kitchen.

He learns that if the true heir is not identified by morning, Li Wenxun intends to pierce the collarbones of both men and cripple their martial arts to eliminate any threat. Panic-stricken, Cai Zhao rushes to find the two men, only to find the guards drugged with sleeping incense. She discovers Chang Ning using a golden whistle to summon a massive eagle.

Before they can escape, Li Wenxun pursues them with a crossbow, and in the ensuing chaos, both Cai Zhao and Chang Ning tumble off a steep cliff, landing within the secluded grounds of Taichu Temple. While at the temple, Chang Ning confronts the leader, Qiu Yuanfeng.

He boldly accuses Qiu of being the masked killer involved in the Chang clan massacre, noting that the distinct sandalwood fragrance of the "Piaomiao" incense on Qiu’s robes matches the scent left by the assassins. Qiu Yuanfeng dismisses the accusation, arguing that the incense is widely used and that he was away from the temple during the attack. The situation is finally diffused when Cai Zhao's parents, Cai Pingchun and Xiaofeng, return with news from their investigation.

They reveal that the "Tiangang Disha Camp" of the demon sect was the true perpetrator and that the sect is now preparing to target the Six Sects. Under this evidence, Jiang Ning confesses that he is the illegitimate son of Chang Haosheng and a village woman, raised by the family steward. He had hoped to assume the identity of the true heir to seek revenge.

Qi Yunke decides to let both men stay, with Jiang Ning working in the herb gardens. Despite the temporary peace, interpersonal friction remains. Qi Lingbo mockingly reminds Cai Zhao of her betrothal to Zhou Yuqi of Peiqiong Manor, warning her to stay away from Chang Ning. When Zhou Yuqi arrives with Min Xinrou, he brings lavish gifts, including a Warm Jade Qilin intended to help Chang Ning’s internal cultivation.

However, Chang Ning’s jealousy flares up, and he frostily rejects the gift. Meanwhile, the group witnesses the leader of the Siqi Sect, Yang Heying, harshly rebuking his daughter Yang Xiaolan for refusing an advantageous marriage to the Guangtian Sect. Driven by curiosity, Cai Zhao later follows Chang Ning into the wine cellar, where she glimpses a mysterious old woman.

Chang Ning claims he was merely looking for a jar of "Qingfeng Zui" wine, but the incident lingers in Cai Zhao’s mind. Her father later mentions that her aunt, Cai Pingshu, used to frequent that cellar with her friends Wu Yuanying and Luo Yuanrong, adding another layer of mystery to the woman’s identity. The sect leaders eventually gather for a grand memorial service to honor the Beichen Founder.

In a display of prowess, the leaders take turns striking a massive bell cast from underwater iron. Qiu Yuanfeng attempts to outshine the others by leaving a deep palm print on the bell using his "one palm, twelve breaths" technique. However, Qi Yunke humbles him by using the Beichen internal heart method to effortlessly erase the marks, demonstrating a level of mastery that leaves the crowd in awe.

The ceremony is interrupted when Cai Zhao identifies the mysterious woman from the cellar as Luo Yuanrong, a former disciple of Master Canghuan. Luo Yuanrong stuns the assembly by bringing forth Wu Yuanying, a legendary hero who is now a blind and paralyzed shell of his former self. She courageously exposes the truth about the war ten years ago, accusing Qiu Yuanfeng of abandoning his senior brother to the enemy out of greed and cowardice.

She reveals she spent a year searching the demon sect’s Youming Path before finally rescuing Wu from the horrific tortures of the Eight-Claw Prison. As Qiu Yuanfeng desperately tries to brand her a spy, a sudden and lethal volley of "Thunderstorm" poison needles rains down on the gathered disciples, turning the memorial into a scene of terror.

During the memorial ceremony at the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao notices an old woman carrying the scent of Breeze wine. She exposes the woman as Luo Yuanrong, a former disciple of Taichu Temple. Confronted by the leaders of the six major sects, a grieving Luo Yuanrong reveals that seventeen years ago, Qiu Yuanfeng conspired with the demon sect to frame his senior brother, Wu Yuanying, to steal the position of sect leader.

Seeking vengeance, Luo Yuanrong uses the hidden weapon "Rain of Thunder" to kill both herself and Qiu Yuanfeng. Before he dies, Chang Ning attempts to question him about the massacre of the Chang clan, but Qiu Yuanfeng expires. Luo Yuanrong then carries the paralyzed Wu Yuanying and leaps from a cliff to join him in death.

In the aftermath, Lei Xiuming is devastated by the loss of his old companions and the broken bond of brotherhood once shared with Cai Pingshu. Meanwhile, Uncle Zhou Zhizhen urges Cai Zhao to leave the martial arts world and fulfill her aunt's wish by marrying Zhou Yuqi, but Cai Zhao remains troubled by the many secrets still hidden in the Jianghu.

Chang Ning also suspects that Qiu Yuanfeng was merely a pawn and vows to find the true mastermind behind the tragedies. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Yang Xiaolan remains dedicated to her training, believing that the path of righteousness is never a mistake. Sensing danger, Qi Yunke advises Chang Ning to leave the sect for his safety, but the Qingque Sect is suddenly ambushed by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches Camp of the demon sect.

Investigating the initial attack, Cai Zhao recognizes the sword marks as the thirteenth move of Taichu Swordsmanship, realizing that Wu Xiong and Wu Gang are internal traitors. She rushes to warn Qi Yunke and helps him fend off an assassination attempt by Wu Xiong, though Qi Yunke is forced to seal his own acupoints to suppress a poisoned blade wound. The violence spreads as Wu Gang leads the demon sect in a brutal slaughter of the disciples.

He confronts Song Yuzhi, expressing a deep-seated hatred for Song’s grandfather, Yin Dai, and strikes Song with the "Nether Aura," a cold poison that leaves him gravely injured. Cai Zhao intervenes with her Sunshine Blade to protect her senior brother. As another traitor, Wu Ping, prepares to reveal the truth behind Cai Pingshu's death, Qi Lingbo silences him with a well-aimed arrow. As Song Yuzhi recovers, he is left with only a fraction of his internal energy.

Qi Lingbo tries to force her attention on him with medicinal soups and a special herbal bath, but Cai Zhao arrives to send her away, giving Song the solitude he desires. Reports arrive that other sects were also ambushed, and the Zhou family of Peiqiong Manor was among those attacked. Cai Zhao and Chang Ning realize that Luo Yuanrong had been unknowingly used by a mastermind to plant traitors within their walls.

The following morning, Cai Zhao discovers that her fifth senior brother, Fan Xingjia, has vanished. Noticing his unmade bed—highly unusual for his wealthy background—she deduces he was kidnapped. To search the town without alerting enemies, she and Chang Ning descend the mountain. Cai Zhao disguises herself as a local girl named Cuihua and goes door-to-door distributing "joyous eggs" for a supposed newborn sister.

She identifies a suspicious house where the inhabitants are ignorant of local customs and finds them to be masters in disguise. Inside, they discover that the kidnappers have forced Qian Xueshen, a descendant of the Thousand-Face Sect, to use his transformation techniques to create an impostor of Fan Xingjia. Just as the villains prepare to kill the real Fan Xingjia, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning strike to save him, only to be confronted by a mysterious figure in black.

Following the night attack on the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning discover that the intruders Wu Gang and Wu Ping had conspired with the demonic sect to infiltrate their home. After rescuing the real Song Yuzhi, the group uses Trace Butterflies to follow the scent of pollen back to the sect, where they find that many "gray-clothed guards" have taken over, acting only on the Sect Leader’s orders.

Cai Zhao remains cautious, testing her senior brothers to see if they have been replaced. While she confirms her fourth senior brother is genuine, she learns that her fifth senior brother, Fan Xingjia, was kidnapped and nearly replaced. Suspecting the Sect Leader, Qi Yunke, is also an impostor, Cai Zhao slips into his quarters during a commotion.

She mentions a glazed lantern he allegedly gave her when she was nine; when the man suggests they now have a "pair," she confirms he is a fake, as the original lantern was shattered years ago. Realizing the true Sect Leader is likely a hostage, Cai Zhao, Chang Ning, and Song Yuzhi search for a secret dungeon beneath the library once used to hold Elder Kaiyang.

They find the prisoner Qian Xueshen there, who admits he disguised the real Qi Yunke before the leader was moved. He explains that the Body Shift technique can only be broken by the impostor's death or the saliva of a Snow-Scale Beast from the northern snow mountains. When the sect's alarm bell rings, Cai Zhao decides to cause a scene to prevent the impostors from killing the real Qi Yunke to cover their tracks.

Before the fake Qi Yunke and Elder Li Wenxun, Cai Zhao stages a diversion by accusing Chang Ning of being a demonic spy. During the ensuing conflict, she kills the impostor posing as Fan Xingjia, whose face transforms upon death, proving the existence of the Body Shift. However, the fake Qi Yunke manages to convince the other disciples of his legitimacy by demonstrating the sect’s unique internal martial arts.

With the others hesitant to act, Cai Zhao prepares to leave the mountain to find the cure. Song Shijun of the Guangtian Sect arrives and distracts the fake leader, allowing Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen to escape. Meanwhile, the Sect Leader's wife, Yin Sulian, grows increasingly suspicious of her husband's cold behavior and decides to close the Double Lotus Palace until the truth is revealed.

At the foot of the mountain, a man identical to Chang Ning appears, revealing his true identity as Mu Qingyan, the Young Lord of the Li Sect. He admits to having poisoned Qian Xueshen earlier to ensure his cooperation. Mu Qingyan explains that his father, the former leader of the Li Sect, was a close friend of Uncle Chang, who protected Mu Qingyan from the usurper Nie Zhe.

Despite her reluctance to associate with the demonic sect, Cai Zhao is torn when Mu Qingyan offers his Golden Peng to fly them to the snow mountains, a journey that would otherwise take weeks on horseback.

Following their arrival in the snowy town of Qingque, Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen are joined by Mu Qingyan, who takes charge of Cai Zhao’s daily needs while relegating Qian Xueshen to the woodshed as a lesson in humility. Cai Zhao is surprised by Mu’s domestic skills, prompting him to explain that his father found peace in simple chores like cleaning and organizing, contrary to the bloodthirsty reputation of the Mu clan.

Their conversation turns to the history of the Li Sect; Mu reveals that Nie Hengcheng was once the sect's "anchor" but was corrupted by the Ziwei Method, a powerful martial art that warps the practitioner's nature. Seeking to escape Mu Qingyan’s control, Cai Zhao successfully tricks him with sleeping powder and hurries away with Qian Xueshen. Unbeknownst to her, Mu Qingyan merely feigned unconsciousness to let her feel a brief sense of triumph.

Eventually, Cai Zhao and Qian Xueshen arrive at a mountain inn, checking in as a newly engaged couple under the aliases Feng Xiaohan and Wan Dazhuang. A servant girl named Qinong mistakes them for fellow treasure hunters and reveals that the legendary Snow-Scale Beast is about to appear. Everyone at the inn seeks its saliva, a rare substance capable of repairing internal energy and granting longevity to her sickly master, Chen Shu.

The atmosphere at the inn turns violent when two thugs harass Cai Zhao. Before she can strike, Mu Qingyan enters and kills the thugs instantly with flying chopsticks. He loudly laments having to search for his runaway fiancée who supposedly eloped with the "pretty boy" Qian Xueshen. While the onlookers are stunned by the brutality, Zhou Zhiqin of Peiqiong Manor clarifies that the deceased were actually notorious criminals.

Cai Zhao recognizes Zhou from her childhood, but Mu Qingyan maintains his disguise under the alias Yan Ning. To further manipulate the crowd, Mu Qingyan uses a fake scale from the beast to provoke a scramble. Zhou Zhiqin joins the fray, claiming he only seeks the beast to find the remains of his son, Zhou Yulin, while Chen Shu and Qinong watch with lethal intent.

That night, the landlady sneaks into Cai Zhao’s room to warn her of the perils ahead, urging her to leave the mountain. Ignoring the warning, the group ventures into the mountains the next day and becomes trapped in a "ghost maze." Mu Qingyan notices the elderly servant Jiu Bo using immense internal power to shatter the ice and break through the illusion. The group finds shelter in an abandoned cabin, where Cai Zhao discovers a wooden sword.

Mu Qingyan remains focused on the old man, suspecting that Jiu Bo is actually Duan Jiuxiu, the Elder Tianji. Duan was the other adopted son of Mu’s great-grandfather, a man who allegedly died years ago after Cai Zhao's aunt, Cai Pingshu, issued a warrant against him for his horrific crimes. The following day, the group falls into a massive ice cave filled with corpses. A terrifying Red-Eyed Crystal Python emerges, its icy breath freezing several warriors and killing Qian Xueshen.

In the chaos, they find the frozen body of Zhou Yulin clutching a bottle of the beast's saliva. A struggle ensues until the bottle ends up in Cai Zhao’s possession. During the fight, Mu Qingyan confronts Jiu Bo, exposing him as Duan Jiuxiu and identifying his signature Wudu Palm. Mu Qingyan also identifies Chen Shu as a sycophant within the Li Sect who is secretly seeking the Ziwei Method.

Cai Zhao manages to rescue Zhou Zhiqin and brings him to a hut to wait for Mu Qingyan, only to hear reports that Mu and the elder were swallowed by the python. The greedy survivors immediately pressure Cai Zhao to hand over the saliva. In this moment, Zhou Zhiqin’s true colors are revealed. Cai Zhao recognizes his sword style, "Moonlight Toast," and realizes his earlier protective actions were merely a ruse.

Zhou Zhiqin admits he did not come for his son’s remains, but for the saliva needed to practice the Ziwei Method and gain absolute power. No longer playing the grieving father, Zhou Zhiqin aligns himself with the other seekers, demanding that Cai Zhao surrender the treasure.

Cai Zhao was stunned to learn that Elder Tianji, Duan Jiuxiu, was still alive, despite believing her aunt, Cai Pingshu, had killed him years ago. Zhou Zhiqin confessed that he had spared the Elder after a past battle, keeping him as a secret ally to further his own ambitions of surpassing his brother and unifying the sects.

However, the alliance between the villains was fragile; the maid Qinong revealed she was a double agent working for Duan Jiuxiu, whom she called Uncle Jiu, while mocking Zhiqin’s delusions of grandeur. Sensing their mutual greed and distrust, Cai Zhao manipulated the trio into a lethal conflict over the limited supply of Snow-Scale Dragon saliva. She demanded that Duan Jiuxiu prove his sincerity by beheading Zhou Zhiqin.

As the villains turned on one another, Cai Zhao fled but was eventually cornered at the edge of a precipice. Just as she faced certain death, Mu Qingyan arrived, accompanied by the "resurrected" Qian Xueshen. It was revealed that Qian Xueshen had faked his death in the ice cave by swapping identities with a man named Zhang using a body-shifting technique.

Mu Qingyan had survived the giant python because his internal cultivation made his body too hot for the cold-loving creature to tolerate. Qian Xueshen then dropped his facade, revealing his true identity as Tao Shu, the son of the humble hunters who had saved Zhiqin, Duan Jiuxiu, and Qinong fifteen years ago. Instead of showing gratitude, the villains had murdered his family to cover up their collusion.

Seeking vengeance, Tao Shu used a concentrated scent to drive the giant python into a frenzy, leading to the villains' demise. In the ensuing chaos, the mountain collapsed, and Cai Zhao, Mu Qingyan, and Tao Shu fell into the depths of a lake. They were rescued by the inn’s landlady, Xuegu, and her companion, Mr. Ning. Recovering in a hidden valley, Cai Zhao noticed patterns on the tea set that matched those of Luoying Valley.

Xuegu explained that her master was a disciple of Gu Qingkong, the legendary first "demoness" of Luoying Valley, who had fled there two centuries ago to protect spirit beasts from human greed. Cai Zhao also discovered that her aunt, Cai Pingshu, had visited the valley years ago with a mysterious masked man who had painted the valley's history.

Most surprisingly, Mr. Ning was revealed to be Cai Zhao's maternal uncle, who had vanished fifteen years ago to escape the turmoil of the martial world. Though the adult dragon was dead, Tao Shu possessed a rare dragon egg. Recalling ancient texts, Mu Qingyan suggested that the creature would respond to the blood of those it shared a bond with. Using Cai Zhao’s blood, they successfully hatched a baby Snow-Scale Dragon.

The mischievous creature eventually settled into a specialized nesting mechanism designed by the Ning clan, allowing them to collect its precious saliva. To test its potency, Tao Shu used it to facilitate a body-shift on Mu Qingyan, temporarily transforming him into the likeness of the landlady. As they prepared to depart, Mu Qingyan asked Cai Zhao if she would ever give up everything for love.

Ever the pragmatist, she admitted she was too fond of the bustling world and her own ambitions to live in isolation. The next morning, Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan bid farewell to the mountain, while Tao Shu remained behind to raise the young dragon and protect the sanctity of the hidden valley.

While traveling through a dense bamboo forest on their return journey, Mu Qingyan finally reveals his true objective. He had discovered the "Ziwei Method" hidden within a secret layer of Yin Dai’s handbook and knew that the dragon saliva was an indispensable medium for its cultivation. Cai Zhao, having already deduced his scheme, subdues him and accuses him of orchestrating their journey to the snow mountains just to use her while he pursued the forbidden technique.

Mu Qingyan remains unfazed, suggesting that they are no different because she likely relied on his protection against the hidden demon sect members in their group. Although Cai Zhao threatens to imprison him to prevent him from becoming another Nie Hengcheng, Mu Qingyan manages to strike back and knock her unconscious. The following morning, Cai Zhao wakes to find that Mu Qingyan has already departed.

He left the precious saliva for her and even prepared a bowl of her favorite wontons in ginseng chicken soup. However, she notices he intentionally left out the green onions to mock her "small-minded" tendencies. Uncle Cheng explains that Mu Qingyan has gone to reclaim his rightful place as the Sect Chief and settle the Mu family's long-standing debts with the Nie clan.

Before Cai Zhao leaves, Uncle Cheng presents her with an Aide token from Bliss Palace, which Mu Qingyan had previously taken from Qinong. This token is intended to help her navigate the dangers of the Demonic Camp. At the Qingque Sect, Song Shijun and his son Song Yuzhi discuss the precarious situation, noting that reinforcements from other sects have been intercepted.

Their conversation is interrupted by Qi Lingbo and the other disciples, who are frustrated by the prolonged lockdown of the mountain. They openly question the motives of the Song family, even suggesting that they are attempting to usurp the position of Sect Leader. To justify the restrictions and clear their names, Song Yuzhi is forced to reveal that his master may have been replaced by an impostor and that Cai Zhao is currently seeking the antidote.

Cai Zhao successfully returns to the vicinity of the sect and secretly meets with Fan Xingjia. He informs her that members of the Demonic Camp are lurking in the town under the command of a mysterious cloaked leader. To ensure her master’s safety, Cai Zhao instructs Fan Xingjia to take the saliva back to the sect to expose the impostors.

Meanwhile, she uses the Aide token to disguise herself as Qinong and infiltrates the courtyard where the real Qi Yunke is being held. She eventually discovers him hidden inside a coffin and manages to rescue him. On the mountain, Fan Xingjia carries out the plan by mixing the saliva into the water supply to dissolve the magical disguises. Meanwhile, Yin Sulian, unaware of the deception, visits the man she believes is her husband and offers him a rare "Clearing Pill".

She explains that the medicine was a gift from an old friend who risked his life in dangerous lands to refine it for the purpose of boosting cultivation. That night, as the saliva takes effect, the Qingque Sect launches a surprise attack and captures the hidden infiltrators. The real Qi Yunke finally returns to the sect, leading to a confrontation where both versions of the leader claim to be genuine.

The impasse is broken when the impostor, having consumed the "Clearing Pill" which actually forces a revelation of one’s true form, is exposed as the first senior brother, Qiu Renjie. Driven by decades of resentment, Qiu Renjie confesses that he turned to the demon sect after Yin Dai tried to have him killed during an ambush on Youming Path to secure the succession for Qi Yunke.

He further shocks everyone by revealing that Yin Dai stole the credit for slaying Nie Hengcheng from Cai Pingshu. To protect her family from the demon sect’s vengeance after Yin Dai’s death, Yin Sulian had later diverted their wrath toward Luoying Valley by revealing the truth about Cai Pingshu. With the family’s dark secrets finally out, a broken Qiu Renjie commits suicide.

In the aftermath, Yin Sulian wanders to the lake in despair, mourning the senior brother she once loved, while Qi Yunke is haunted by hallucinations of Cai Pingshu. Elsewhere, Mu Qingyan gathers his subordinates and administers the "Sevens Pill" to ensure their absolute loyalty, fueled by a determination to reclaim his birthright and unify the Jianghu.

Cai Zhao sought out Lei Xiuming to uncover the hidden truth regarding her aunt, Cai Pingshu. She had recently learned that the late Yin Dai had stolen the credit for her aunt's legendary feat of killing the demon lord Nie Hengcheng. Lei Xiuming admitted that while many had witnessed the deception, no one dared to speak up for justice at the time. He explained that Cai Pingshu, gravely injured and seeking peace, had not cared for the fame.

Furthermore, Cai Zhao’s mother had correctly predicted that the demon sect would seek vengeance against whoever was named the hero. By taking the credit, Yin Dai unknowingly made himself and his allies targets. This stolen glory eventually led to the bloody massacre of the Siqi Sect, where Yang Yi lost his life and the Yang family fell into ruin—a case of reaping what one sows. During their talk, Qi Yunke arrived to discuss the burial of Qiu Renjie.

Though the initial plan was to inter him in the Qingque Sect’s ancestral hall, Lei Xiuming and Cai Zhao felt otherwise. Cai Zhao noted that Qiu Renjie had been adamant about not turning back, suggesting he would not wish to be buried in the Yin family’s hall. Qi Yunke conceded and decided to find a different resting place. He then questioned Cai Zhao about the mysterious intruder she had fought recently.

She described the man as being covered from head to toe, though his bearing was extraordinary. Cai Zhao later attended to Song Yuzhi, using the miraculous saliva to treat his internal injuries. To ensure no one else would pursue the source, she lied and claimed that Qian Xueshen had died from a demon sect poison before she could save him. The treatment proved effective, warming Song Yuzhi’s meridians. Deeply grateful, Song Yuzhi offered her treasures from his sect.

Cai Zhao, showing her practical side, asked for gold and silver instead of elegant artifacts. She later gifted these riches to her third senior brother, Fan Xingjia, who was amazed by her sudden wealth. Despite the progress, Cai Zhao noted that a complete cure for Song Yuzhi’s Nether Aura required a rare treasure called the Jade Sunflower. Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan began gathering his loyalists to reclaim his position. On his journey, he intercepted the Li Sect’s strategist, Yu Huiyin.

Shocked to see Mu Qingyan alive after being struck by the Wudu Palm, Yu Huiyin was left speechless. Mu Qingyan intentionally spared him, commanding him to return to the current Chief, Nie Zhe, with a warning: the true heir of the Mu clan had returned to take back what was rightfully his. At the Li Sect, the Chief was furious over the failed infiltration of the Qingque Sect.

Mu Qingyan's mother, Sun Ruoshui, was stunned to hear of her son's return, insisting that the poison she was forced to help administer should have been fatal. However, the Elder Hufa, Hu Fengge, stepped forward with resolve. She proposed to join forces with Yu Huiyin to eliminate Mu Qingyan. That night, as Hu Fengge tended to Yu Huiyin’s injuries, she expressed regret for not being by his side when he was struck by Qi Yunke’s Huolong Palm.

Cai Zhao received a letter from her mother regarding the Jade Sunflower. It had originally been stolen from the demon sect’s treasury by a friend of her aunt to treat the Shi brothers, but it had vanished shortly after. Cai Zhao suspected that her aunt had likely returned it to the demon sect after its use. She suggested to Song Yuzhi that they should simply steal it back.

Their private discussion was interrupted by a jealous Qi Lingbo, who accused them of being too intimate. A confrontation ensued, and in the heat of the moment, Song Yuzhi’s father, Song Shijun, was accidentally injured. That evening, Song Shijun observed his son preparing money for Cai Zhao. He was delighted, hoping his son would choose Cai Zhao over Qi Lingbo. He encouraged Yuzhi to seize this fate, even offering to help annul the current betrothal.

However, Song Yuzhi remained cautious, worried that a sudden break would ruin Qi Lingbo’s reputation. The next day, Song Shijun pointedly praised Cai Zhao in front of Yin Sulian. Yin Sulian tried to pressure him into setting a wedding date for Lingbo and Yuzhi, but Shijun skillfully delayed the matter by focusing on his son's health. In private, Yin Sulian attempted to persuade Qi Lingbo to give up on Song Yuzhi.

She argued that his recovery was unlikely and she did not want her daughter to be tied to a man who could no longer offer a stable future as a sect leader. Qi Lingbo fiercely rejected her mother’s view, accusing her of treating her like a puppet for the Yin family’s power. She expressed her admiration for Cai Zhao’s independence and the legendary strength of Cai Pingshu, declaring she would rather live a short, meaningful life of her own choosing.

At the Li Sect’s Qinglong Altar, the master You Guanyue found himself isolated. On his birthday, no guests arrived, as rumors of his secret alliance with Mu Qingyan had made him a pariah. Desperate to prove his loyalty, he prepared a petition of self-defense, using the blood of his subordinate to show his sincerity. His anxiety spiked when Yu Huiyin arrived, bearing a gift from the Chief: the spear of the late Elder Qiu.

The gift implied that You Guanyue was expected to serve as the vanguard in the coming conflict. To make matters worse, Yu Huiyin left his subordinate, Li Yi, behind to monitor him. Alone and terrified, You Guanyue prayed before his adoptive father's spirit tablet, lamenting the peril he faced.

You Guanyue's secret meeting with Mu Qingyan was discovered by Li Yi, leaving the altar master with no way to explain his actions to Chief Nie Zhe. Realizing his only hope for survival was to join the Mu clan's cause, You Guanyue put on a dramatic display of loyalty.

He claimed that he and his foster father, Elder Qiu, had always awaited Mu Qingyan’s return, and that he had only endured humiliation under the likes of Yu Huiyin and Xiong Qianjin to preserve their strength. Mu Qingyan, well aware of You Guanyue’s self-serving nature, accepted his pledge but forced him to consume a "poison" pill—which was actually fake—to ensure his continued obedience.

Later, You Guanyue rallied his subordinates by exposing Nie Zhe’s cruel plan to refine innocent villagers into corpse puppets. Horrified by this lack of virtue, the men vowed to support the Mu clan. However, the strategist Yu Huiyin learned of this betrayal and seized You Guanyue’s lover, Xing’er, to use as leverage. News of Mu Qingyan successfully taking the Qinglong Altar quickly reached the Qingque Sect.

Qi Lingbo, eager for glory, suggested that they should seize the opportunity to capture the altar for themselves. Cai Zhao laughed at her sister's opportunistic nature, while Song Yuzhi remained calm, arguing that Nie Zhe’s long-standing influence meant Mu Qingyan’s victory would likely trigger internal chaos, making it an unwise time for the sect to intervene. Qi Yunke praised Song Yuzhi’s composure and told Qi Lingbo to learn from her senior brother’s steady judgment.

Later, Qi Yunke expressed his regret to Cai Zhao for the danger she faced while seeking his medicine, mentioning his promise to her aunt, Cai Pingshu, to keep her safe. He warned her never to leave the sect alone again, emphasizing the heavy blood feud between the righteous and demon sects.

Cai Zhao suspected her uncle had guessed Chang Ning was actually Mu Qingyan and was warning her to stay away, yet she could not help but reminisce about the time they spent together. You Guanyue eventually tracked Mu Qingyan down to his secluded residence, Busi Zhai. To enter, he had to be guided through the "Juesha" formation that Mu Qingyan’s father had placed around the area to ensure peace.

You Guanyue reported that the Li Sect was in total lockdown, but he had yet to find the hidden location where the corpse puppets were being refined. Mu Qingyan ordered him to continue the investigation. Meanwhile, Cai Zhao used a metaphor to describe Chang Ning to her fifth senior brother, comparing him to a pet duckling that turned out to be a proud white goose determined to venture into the world.

Her brother, however, mistook her concern for a desire to eat the ducks raised by the healer Lei Xiuming. The situation turned grave when Lei Xiuming informed Cai Zhao that the toxins in Chang Ning’s body had not been fully cleared and were now incurable. While his martial arts seemed to have recovered, any serious injury or overexertion could cause his meridians to rupture, claiming his life.

Realizing that Chang Ning had likely left because he knew his days were numbered and wanted to seek revenge alone, Cai Zhao grew desperate. She prepared a special medicinal incense and planned to sneak down the mountain. Song Yuzhi caught her and insisted on coming along, both to repay her for her previous help and to eventually borrow the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower from Mu Qingyan.

He provided a map and noted that his presence would prevent her from being accused of colluding with the demon sect. The two managed to leave the sect and sought out an old servant of Mu Qingyan. The old man refused to give them a more recent map of the Hanhai Mountains, fearing for Cai Zhao’s safety. He playfully referred to Song Yuzhi as "Mr. Zhu" and insisted that Mu Qingyan was doing well and masterminding his return.

When Cai Zhao claimed Mu Qingyan had promised to "take responsibility" for her, the old man replied that such a significant matter would have to wait until the Chief’s situation was settled. Instead of a map, he gave them a safety talisman. Elsewhere, Li Yi forced You Guanyue to lead an assassination attempt on Mu Qingyan, using Xing’er's life as blackmail. Although You Guanyue was forced to act, Mu Qingyan was already aware of the situation.

Before the attack could truly begin, Mu Qingyan’s hidden guards defeated Li Yi’s group, sending them fleeing in disgrace. Mu Qingyan then confronted the trembling You Guanyue, asking if he truly wanted to save Xing’er.

Feeling deep remorse for his perceived betrayal, You Guanyue pleaded with Mu Qingyan to save the innocent Xing'er, who had saved his life years ago with a single bowl of rice. He offered his own life in exchange for her safety, but Mu Qingyan revealed he had no intention of killing him. Having looked into You Guanyue’s past, Mu Qingyan noted that he had been sold to the Li Sect as a child and adopted by Elder Qiu.

Though You Guanyue had risen to become the Master of the Qinglong Altar, he had fallen out of favor with Nie Zhe not because of incompetence, but because he had protected his people by delaying labor and taxes. Believing that a person's true character is revealed during their lowest points, Mu Qingyan accepted You Guanyue’s loyalty and sent him back to the Qinglong Altar to await further orders. Meanwhile, internal strife plagued the Li Sect.

Elder Hu Fengge attacked Protector Shangguan Haonan, accusing him of being the masked figure who had recently thwarted her attempt to assassinate Mu Qingyan. She argued that only Shangguan had the skill and resources to move so many men so quickly. Nie Zhe arrived to settle the dispute, providing an alibi for Shangguan, though Hu Fengge suspected favoritism. To prove his devotion, Shangguan volunteered to guard the Xuanwu Altar against Mu Qingyan’s advance.

However, Nie Zhe remained suspicious; he privately ordered his subordinate, Xiong Qianjin, to monitor Shangguan and kill him at any sign of treachery, intending to blame the death on Mu Qingyan. Unaware of the sect’s internal conflict, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi pushed toward the Hanhai Mountains.

Song Yuzhi provided disguises to avoid scouts, but Cai Zhao discovered a book in his bag titled "100 Ways to Win a Lady Over", which Song’s father had secretly given him to help his romantic prospects. As they traveled, they stumbled upon a lively market. Cai Zhao was delighted by the food, unaware that Mu Qingyan had instructed his manager to set up this resting spot for her.

They met Xue Youfu, a merchant who claimed he could lead them to the Li Sect's entrance, the treacherous Youming Path. Xue Youfu proved to be greedy, doubling his price, but Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi sympathized with his supposed hardships. However, Xue abandoned them mid-journey, leaving them to be ambushed by the mysterious Black Slayers. Back at the sect, Qi Yunke grew suspicious of the duo's absence.

Song Yuzhi had left a letter claiming he was inspecting territories, while Cai Zhao’s maid, Feicui, insisted Cai Zhao had contracted chickenpox. Qi Yunke saw through the ruse immediately, noting that the "patient" in the room was sitting too straight and was seemingly absorbed in a book titled "Eighteen Years in the Cold Kiln"—a story Cai Zhao famously detested. He eventually forced the maid to admit they had left.

Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi survived the ambush but wandered into a field of Nightmare Butterflies. The insects' fragrance trapped them in illusions; Cai Zhao dreamed she was a prosperous market manager in Luoying Town with Mu Qingyan serving as her loyal subordinate, "Xiao Yanzi." Song Yuzhi was similarly entranced until Cai Zhao used a protective amulet from Uncle Cheng to break the spell.

She woke Song Yuzhi, and they were horrified to find the field littered with the bones of previous victims. The pair then entered the Toxins Abyss, a fog-filled wasteland of man-eating plants. There, they encountered Xue Youfu again, who was being pursued by Black Slayers while trying to harvest toxic Shanci Mushrooms. They saved him, and although he initially tried to fake his death to avoid their anger, he eventually led them to his village.

Xue explained that the Nightmare Fields and the Toxins Abyss were recent additions to the landscape designed to keep outsiders away. He also shared that the Li Sect had grown increasingly oppressive, seizing men for construction and forcing hunters to gather toxins. When the Village Chief and a mob arrived to demand why outsiders were present, Xue Youfu explained that the duo had killed the Black Slayers responsible for recent disappearances.

The villagers' hostility turned to gratitude, and they provided the duo with food and clothes belonging to the Chief’s granddaughter, Xing'er, who served at the Qinglong Altar. As Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi prepared to reach the altar, Mu Qingyan mobilized his forces. Rejecting the use of secret tunnels, he declared his intent to fight through the Youming Path step by step, determined to burn down the corruption of the Bliss Palace and rebuild the sect from its ashes.

Xing found herself trapped within the filth of the Li Sect's dungeon, desperately searching for a way to force open the heavy doors of her cell. Her luck seemed to turn when a mysterious man in black broke in to rescue her, but he was quickly overwhelmed by a powerful local master. Just as the rescuer's life hung in the balance, Shangguan Haonan intervened to save him.

Amidst the chaos of the skirmish, the resourceful Xing managed to slip out of the dungeon on her own. As she fled through the dark, dense forest, she stumbled upon a horrifying sight: members of the demon sect were escorting a group of eerie, distorted monsters that seemed neither human nor ghost. Meanwhile, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi were debating how to infiltrate the Li Sect.

Cai Zhao, drawing inspiration from the bold tactics she had read about in adventure stories, suggested they pose as relatives of the staff at the Qinglong Altar to persuade them to surrender. Their discussion was interrupted when a terrified Xing ran into them, frantically babbling about the yellow-faced, white-eyed "walking ghosts" she had encountered.

Recognizing each other through the dress the village chief had previously given to Cai Zhao, Xing revealed that she was the relative Xue Youfu had been searching for, but warned that Xiong Qianjin was currently hunting her and endangering the village. The threat became a reality as Xiong Qianjin descended upon the village, ruthlessly torturing the inhabitants to uncover Xing's whereabouts. When he cold-bloodedly murdered a villager named Wang, Cai Zhao realized she had to act.

Entrusting her belongings to Song Yuzhi, she disguised herself as Xing and stepped forward to surrender, demanding the safety of the others. Xiong Qianjin, though annoyed by being called a "big lug," took her into custody along with the remaining villagers. As they were led away, Song Yuzhi instructed the real Xing to seek reinforcements from the Qinglong Altar while he shadowed the captors into the woods.

During the journey, they crossed paths with Lady Sun, Mu Qingyan's mother, who was out gathering medicinal flowers for the Chief. Lady Sun was struck by the beauty of the captive girl's eyes and asked to take her, but Xiong Qianjin refused, noting that the sect's strategist, Yu Huiyin, specifically required the girl. The next morning, Mu Qingyan arrived at the village only to find it deserted.

Sensing that Cai Zhao had fallen into trouble, he dispatched his Peng bird to track her scent. On the other side of the forest, Cai Zhao managed to break away from her captors during the escort by feigning a leg injury, only to stumble into the perilous Poison Swarm Array. Recalling the survival techniques taught by her aunt, Cai Pingshu, she quickly applied Bee-Repelling Powder to her skin.

While the venomous swarm ignored her, the pursuing demon sect members were not so fortunate and were stung to death. Her respite was brief, however; Hu Fengge arrived and immediately saw through her disguise. Hu Fengge neutralized Cai Zhao with a dose of softening powder and struck her mute acupoint before taking her back to the Li Sect's prison.

Confined within the EightClaw Prison, Cai Zhao attempted to deceive Hu Fengge by claiming to be a lowly disciple of the disbanded Qingzhu Gang who had only impersonated Xing to repay the villagers for their kindness. She spoke of how her late leader had met a legendary heroine who wielded a blade brighter than the sun, and more importantly, she described the "Slayer Ghosts" that were turning missing villagers into monsters.

This revelation sparked a confrontation between Hu Fengge and the strategist Yu Huiyin. Yu admitted that under Chief Nie Zhe’s orders, they were refining corpse slaves to bolster their ranks against Mu Qingyan's forces. While Hu Fengge insisted on investigating whether the villagers were truly traitors, a ruthless Yu Huiyin privately ordered the execution of the girl to prevent any future trouble.

While lingering in her cell, Cai Zhao was shocked to find the name of her aunt’s long-lost junior brother, Guo Zigui, carved into the stone wall. Despite the weakening effects of the softening powder, she utilized the Innate Circulation technique Mu Qingyan had previously taught her to purge the toxins from her system. When guards arrived to kill her, Cai Zhao bought time by lying about a treasure.

She claimed that a woman named Qinong had stolen a manual from Duan Jiuxiu and entrusted it to her to give to the Chief. Unmoved, the guards attempted to cast her into a pool of medicinal liquid used for refining corpse slaves. In a desperate struggle, Cai Zhao dragged a guard down with her, vowing that they would die together.

Fortunately, she managed to fight her way out just as Mu Qingyan and Song Yuzhi arrived to launch an attack on the facility. In the chaos of the collapsing dungeon, Cai Zhao spotted her aunt's Sunshine Blade. She managed to escape the Li Sect with the others, though she was unfortunately bitten by a corpse bug during the frantic retreat.

Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi successfully escaped the Li Sect’s lair with the villagers, who were deeply grateful for their rescue. However, the mood shifted when the talk turned to the "corpse slaves." Village Chief Gui revealed the horrific nature of these monsters—mindless, rotting creatures controlled by others. He recalled how his own nephew had been turned into one years ago.

To find a way to stop this refinement process, the Chief led the group to the Jiuzhou Archive, a long-forgotten repository of sect records. Inside the archive, they encountered Yan Xu, the Sect’s Elder Scribe, who had been chained and imprisoned by Nie Zhe for refusing to falsify the sect’s history. Yan Xu was an old friend of the Chief and revealed that he had helped save Mu Qingyan’s life a year ago when the latter was gravely injured.

Drawing from his knowledge of ancient texts, Yan Xu identified Shanci Mushrooms as the core ingredient of the corpse poison and suggested that an herbal remedy found near the mushrooms’ source could suppress their effects. While searching for the herbs in the back mountain, Cai Zhao noticed the Li Sect was already harvesting the mushrooms in bulk to accelerate their production of slaves. Suddenly, a signal rang out, and the sect members retreated toward the Xuanwu Altar.

Cai Zhao realized that Mu Qingyan had launched his final assault and that the sect intended to use the slaves against him. Before joining the battle, Cai Zhao insisted on testing the herbal remedy on herself, revealing to a shocked Song Yuzhi that she had already been bitten by a corpse worm during their escape. Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan’s forces laid siege to the Xuanwu Altar.

To solidify his standing within the sect, Mu Qingyan ordered You Guanyue to duel the brutal Xiong Qianjin. Despite his reputation for being a cautious flatterer, You Guanyue fought with desperate ferocity and eventually killed Xiong. The battle grew more dire when Yu Huiyin used zither music to control a swarm of unstoppable corpse slaves. In the chaos, Shangguan Haonan revealed himself as Mu Qingyan’s mole and turned against the loyalists.

The confrontation turned personal when Xing’er appeared as a mindless slave and stabbed You Guanyue. Just as Mu Qingyan was being overwhelmed, Cai Zhao arrived and used the herbal powder to neutralize the slaves. Yu Huiyin fled, and Mu Qingyan, exhausted and still suffering from lingering poison, collapsed. When Mu Qingyan regained consciousness, he found Cai Zhao at his side.

However, his relief turned to jealousy when she mentioned returning to the Qingque Sect with Song Yuzhi once a permanent cure was found. He pulled her into a possessive embrace, refusing to let her go. During their exchange, he noticed her symptoms of corpse poisoning and tried to physically examine her to check the severity, leading to a frantic and awkward misunderstanding when the others burst into the room.

As Mu Qingyan began purging traitors from the ranks to restore order, Nie Zhe sought out his senior brother in a secluded hut. The senior, whose legs had been severed years ago by Cai Pingshu, agreed to help Nie Zhe lure Mu Qingyan into a lethal trap. Seeking a way to identify the mysterious poison in his own body, Mu Qingyan consulted Yan Xu again.

While Yan Xu was uncertain, Cai Zhao recalled a memory of Mu Qingyan's mother, Lady Sun, collecting dew late at night near the Youming Path for her "medicinal flowers." Realizing this might lead to a secret herbal garden and a potential cure for both her and Mu Qingyan, the group prepared to investigate the hidden site.

Mu Qingyan and Song Yuzhi remained deeply divided over their feelings for Cai Zhao, leading to a sharp verbal confrontation. Mu Qingyan suggested that since Song Yuzhi had come seeking the Jade Sunflower to restore his powers, he should simply wait for it to be delivered after the Bliss Palace was captured.

However, Song Yuzhi refused to leave, citing his duty to protect Cai Zhao until her poison was cured and his desire to help eliminate Nie Zhe for the sake of the Beichen Six Sects. When Cai Zhao entered and openly shielded Song Yuzhi, claiming she had to ensure the safety of the person she brought along, Mu Qingyan was consumed by jealousy.

Later, Mu Qingyan coldly told her that once she was cured, she should leave the Hanhai Mountains with her senior brother. Despite his harsh words, he couldn't hide his possessiveness, eventually ordering her not to leave when she threatened to walk away. Meanwhile, a fragile peace returned to some as Xing woke up and shared an emotional reunion with You Guanyue. However, external pressures continued to mount.

At the Qingque Sect, Qi Lingbo learned that her father, Qi Yunke, and Song Shijun had gone to the Hanhai Mountains. Fearing that Cai Zhao would use the opportunity to win over Song Yuzhi, she attempted to follow them but was sternly stopped by her mother, Madam Qi. Madam Qi advised her daughter to prioritize the bigger picture and maintain the sect's reputation, reminding her that Qi Yunke wished to keep their movements quiet.

The political situation within the Li Sect grew volatile as rumors spread that Mu Qingyan was colluding with Cai Zhao, the niece of their sworn enemy, Cai Pingshu. Seeking to exploit this, Nie Zhe used the connection to paint Mu Qingyan as a rebel. At the Qinglong Altar, Elder Yan Xu confronted Mu Qingyan after recognizing the Sunshine Blade in Cai Zhao's possession.

Yan Xu, driven by a desire to avenge those killed by Cai Pingshu, was prepared to eliminate her to protect the sect’s legacy. Xing attempted to defend Cai Zhao by pointing out that she had saved many sect members, but the elders remained unmoved. Mu Qingyan stepped in with biting sarcasm, reminding the elders that Cai Pingshu had defeated their former leader, Nie Hengcheng, in a fair duel without traps or tricks.

He declared Cai Zhao his closest friend and vowed to kill anyone who dared to harm her, effectively forcing Yan Xu and his followers to retreat. Not far from the Li Sect, Qi Yunke and Song Shijun observed villagers evacuating the area. They discovered that Mu Qingyan had ordered the burning of the nightmare fields to allow the villagers to escape the impending war. Before they could move further, Xue Youfu met them to deliver a message from Cai Zhao.

She apologized for her disappearance but urged them not to enter the sect grounds, warning that their presence would only complicate her plans and jeopardize the search for what Song Yuzhi needed. Mu Qingyan, Cai Zhao, and Song Yuzhi eventually reached the herbal garden, only to find it devastated by poison smoke used by Sun Ruoshui to destroy the medicinal plants. Mu Qingyan decided to take them to a forbidden ground known as Busi Zhai, his childhood home.

This residence, meticulously maintained by a caretaker named Uncle Cheng, held the rare Beichen Orchid that his father had cherished. After Cai Zhao took the medicine made from the orchid, her symptoms began to fade. She tried to convince Mu Qingyan to use the herb for his own poisoning, but he refused.

Haunted by his own mortality, he spoke of his impending end and asked if she would remember him and tell her future grandchildren about him after he was gone. The following day, Song Yuzhi sought a private conversation with Mu Qingyan to discuss the concept of "Momentum."

Song Yuzhi argued that Mu Qingyan was a man of the demon sect while Cai Zhao was a beloved daughter of the righteous sects, making their union a defiance of the natural order of the world. Mu Qingyan, undeterred, replied that he had a penchant for forcing things against the tide. Meanwhile, Nie Zhe’s family dynamic remained fractured. His son, Si'en, expressed worry about the conflict, while his wife, Ruxin, treated Nie Zhe with cold indifference.

Having no affection for the son he shared with Ruxin, Nie Zhe plotted with Sun Ruoshui, promising to make her his equal wife if she succeeded in killing Mu Qingyan. Later, Sun Ruoshui visited the Qinglong Altar, putting on an elaborate act of maternal longing. She claimed she had been imprisoned and threatened by Nie Zhe. Mu Qingyan saw right through her performance, mocking her for not making her fake wounds deeper for better effect.

He warned her that he only tolerated her existence because of a promise to his father. Before leaving, Sun Ruoshui presented him with the Fuying Sword, a relic of his father that she claimed to have risked her life to retrieve from Bliss Palace. Left alone with the weapon, Mu Qingyan held the sword, remembering his father’s wish for him to live a long and peaceful life.

Seeking the truth behind the strained relationship between Mu Qingyan and his mother, Sun Ruoshui, Cai Zhao approached You Guanyue for details. She learned that years ago, Sun Ruoshui, the daughter of Mu Qingyan’s father’s mentor, sought refuge with Mu Zhengming by claiming she had nowhere else to go. Though Mu Zhengming was an upright man, he was eventually swayed by her persistence.

However, Sun Ruoshui secretly maintained an affair with Nie Zhe and even slandered Mu Zhengming’s dignity by claiming Mu Qingyan was actually Nie Zhe’s biological son. This rumor only subsided as Mu Qingyan grew up to be the exact image of his true father. Shortly after, Sun Ruoshui visited Cai Zhao’s quarters, feigning the role of a refined lady.

Cai Zhao, who harbored a deep loathing for the woman, did not hide her disdain, pointedly noting that unlike Sun Ruoshui, she had never abandoned Mu Qingyan. Sun Ruoshui attempted to gain sympathy by portraying herself as a helpless victim held captive by Nie Zhe. Unmoved, Cai Zhao secretly added a potent laxative to Sun Ruoshui’s tea.

Though Sun Ruoshui sensed the trick and tried to force Cai Zhao to drink with her before spilling the cup, the drug was so strong that merely smelling it was enough to take effect, leaving Sun Ruoshui in an undignified rush to the latrine. Later that night, Mu Qingyan visited Cai Zhao with a pillow in hand, jokingly claiming he couldn't sleep.

Cai Zhao recounted how she had outmaneuvered Sun Ruoshui’s attempt to use a sleeping potion by using the laxative instead. Mu Qingyan was relieved to see Cai Zhao could handle his mother’s malice. However, the atmosphere shifted when Mu Qingyan appeared to suffer a sudden poison flare-up. Sun Ruoshui arrived and immediately accused Cai Zhao of poisoning her son, questioning why he was in her room at dawn.

Cai Zhao fired back, noting that Mu Qingyan had been fine for months until his mother arrived. On Cai Zhao's orders, the intruder was forcibly removed. In reality, the entire scene was a calculated performance by Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao to deceive the enemy. The following day, Mu Qingyan took Cai Zhao to a dilapidated shack in the wilderness, the place where he had been kept like a beast for the first five years of his life.

He revealed that shortly after his birth, Nie Zhe had severed his tendons and forced Sun Ruoshui to abandon him there to prevent him from ever becoming a threat. He lived in darkness until his father recovered from his own injuries and rescued him. His father exhausted his inner power to rebuild Mu Qingyan’s meridians, leading to his premature death.

Mu Qingyan eventually realized that the real poison that had slowly killed his father was "Suzi Fragrance," which Sun Ruoshui had applied to his father’s Fuying Sword. While Mu Qingyan vowed to fulfill his father's wish to provide for his mother, his plan was to keep her in comfort but total, lifelong solitude. Thinking Mu Qingyan was on the verge of death, Sun Ruoshui returned to the Li Sect and informed Nie Zhe.

Believing the threat was neutralized, Nie Zhe planned a celebration and promised to officially make Sun Ruoshui his wife. During the banquet, a tense confrontation occurred between Sun Ruoshui and Ruxin, Nie Zhe's original wife, who lamented that the sect had lost its former integrity and was now filled with betrayal and shamelessness. Meanwhile, Nie Zhe sent the strategist Yu Huiyin to reclaim the altars.

You Guanyue held the front at the Xuanwu Altar, putting on a show of confidence that made the suspicious Yu Huiyin hesitate. By the time Yu Huiyin realized it was a diversion and sent word back to the palace, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao had already infiltrated through the back mountain. Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao entered Bliss Palace disguised as guards. When they revealed themselves, Mu Qingyan challenged Nie Zhe for the leadership of the sect.

During the duel, Nie Zhe released a powder made from Qianxun Wood, a catalyst for the Suzi Fragrance already in Mu Qingyan’s system. Nie Zhe boastfully revealed that the poison was odorless, colorless, and had no cure—the same poison that consumed Mu Qingyan’s father. As Cai Zhao demanded an antidote from Sun Ruoshui, the floor gave way, and the pair fell into a trap—a cage forged from refined dark iron.

Nie Zhe then released Erosion Ants, a deadly swarm that feeds on flesh. Observing the ants, Mu Qingyan deduced that the controller must be nearby and realized that Han Yisu, one of Nie Hengcheng’s original disciples, was still alive and orchestrating the trap.

Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao were trapped in a dark iron cage as a swarm of terrifying Bone-Erosion Ants approached. Mu Qingyan identified the controller as Han Yisu, the third disciple of the former leader Nie Hengcheng. Han Yisu emerged, fueled by fifteen years of hatred; he had been left crippled after Cai Zhao's aunt, Cai Pingshu, used the "Sundering Heaven, Slaying Sun" technique to defeat him and kill his master.

As You Guanyue and Song Yuzhi arrived to provide a distraction, Mu Qingyan killed Han Yisu with a hidden weapon. However, with his dying breath, Han triggered a mechanism that plunged Mu and Cai into a deep underground palace. Exploring the subterranean complex, they found a tomb for "The Mu Couple." Mu Qingyan recalled that the fifth Chief, Mu Donglie, had abdicated at age twenty to live in seclusion.

While rumors suggested the palace held treasures—evidenced by the skeletons of failed seekers—Cai Zhao noticed "peach blossom" signals on the walls, which were actually guide marks used by her own sect, Luoying Valley. Meanwhile, You Guanyue’s forces secured the Bliss Palace and enlisted the help of Elder Yan Xu to locate the secret entrance. Deep inside, Mu and Cai discovered a screen wall detailing the life of the sect’s founder, Mu Xiujue.

It revealed a shocking truth: Mu Xiujue was the son of the Beichen ancestor, who had left home after a fallout over the use of forbidden techniques. Furthermore, the founders of the Six Sects were originally his servants. This discovery led Mu Qingyan to remark that "good" and "evil" are often labels manufactured by later generations for their own interests.

The pair eventually found a beautifully furnished wedding chamber containing the sword of Luo Shiyun, a legendary Luoying Valley figure branded a "demoness" for eloping with Mu Donglie. Through her handbooks, they learned the true story: the two were originally enemies who fell off a cliff together. During their recovery, they developed mutual feelings. When the Qingque Sect took Luo back to marry her senior brother, Yin, Mu Donglie crashed the wedding and used Chaos Needles to subdue Yin.

Luo stayed with Mu to save Yin’s life, initially plotting Mu's death—hence the chains found in the room. Eventually, after Luo was slandered by her own sect and even doubted by Yin, she attempted suicide to prove her innocence. Mu Donglie saved her again, and she finally chose to stay by his side.

Reflecting on this, Mu Qingyan spoke of the sweetness of being with a loved one even in a "cage," but Cai Zhao insisted that happiness within a cage is never true freedom. Following a final hidden signal, they escaped the palace, surviving an ambush by a mysterious man in black. They reunited with their allies, with Song Yuzhi explaining he tracked the exit by studying the mountain's feng shui and disrupted water sources.

The group then tracked the fugitive Nie Zhe to the Mu clan's ancestral residence, a forbidden ground where few dared to go. After capturing him, Mu Qingyan used a brutal internal technique to torture Nie Zhe, demanding the truth behind the massacre at Chang Fort and his father’s death. During the interrogation, Sun Ruoshui appeared, tearfully blaming Nie Zhe for everything. Mu Qingyan remained unmoved, exposing her as a trained spy who never attempted to warn him.

He threatened her with "Suzi Fragrance" poison to force a confession. The two villains soon turned on each other; Nie Zhe revealed that Sun Ruoshui had seduced him out of vanity because she despised her husband Mu Zhengming's lack of ambition. In retaliation, Sun Ruoshui confessed that Nie Zhe had attacked Chang Fort under the orders of a mysterious "Man in Black." Just as she was about to reveal more, Nie Zhe tried to silence her, but Mu Qingyan pressed them for the final identity of the mastermind.

Sun Ruoshui finally reveals the truth about her past. Years ago, shortly after Nie Zhe became the Chief, she witnessed him meeting a mysterious man in black. To help Nie Zhe secure his position against those who refused to submit, the man in black provided a list of targets to be eliminated.

He was also the source of the Suzi Fragrance and Qianxun Wood used to poison Mu Qingyan’s father and orchestrated the death of the former Chief of the Qingque Sect, Yin Dai, by leaking his location. Despite her confession and pleas for mercy, Mu Qingyan remains cold, sentencing her to spend the rest of her life in solitary confinement within the dungeon.

Suspecting the man in black will attempt to rescue Nie Zhe, Cai Zhao suggests they wait to catch him. Meanwhile, You Guanyue discovers that the Jade Sunflower has been stolen from the treasury. Yan Xu explains that while Nie Hengcheng once attacked his disciple Lu Chengnan in a murderous frenzy over the missing artifact, it is unlikely that Lu Chengnan, as the intended successor, would have stolen it.

Because the primary healing item is missing, Mu Qingyan gives Song Yuzhi a Wanzai Stone from the Western Regions. While it cannot fully cure the cold poison in Song Yuzhi’s body, its warming properties are exceptional. Song Yuzhi accepts the gift but remains focused on taking Cai Zhao away, warning that the deep blood feuds between the Li Sect and the northern sects cannot be easily resolved.

As the villagers return home, Mu Qingyan takes Cai Zhao on a giant eagle to view the vast Hanhai Mountains. He speaks of his father’s tragic sense of duty, explaining that the former Chief never left these mountains because he could not bear to see those loyal to the Mu clan slaughtered by unruly subordinates like Nie Hengcheng or the Six Sects.

Mu Qingyan’s own condition appears to take a turn for the worse as his poisoning symptoms seemingly become terminal. Claiming that even Physician Lei is helpless, he asks Cai Zhao to stay by his side during his final days. Moved by his vulnerability, Cai Zhao agrees to remain in the Li Sect to care for him, even refusing to leave when Song Yuzhi informs her that Qi Yunke and Song Shijun are waiting nearby.

Yan Xu is highly critical of Mu Qingyan’s attachment to Cai Zhao, warning him that his father’s mercy was his downfall and that a leader of the Mu clan must not let personal feelings ruin the Li Sect. However, Mu Qingyan reveals that his deteriorating health is a calculated ruse to lure out the remnants of Nie Zhe’s faction and identify the man in black.

Cai Zhao soon discovers the deception when she finds dregs of Xungu Grass in his medicine—a herb used specifically to simulate a deadly illness. Realizing she has been used as a pawn to bait enemies and manipulated into staying, Cai Zhao confronts Mu Qingyan in a heated argument. Mu Qingyan, dropping the act, tells her that as long as he is the Chief, she cannot leave without his permission.

The tension is interrupted when the man in black successfully infiltrates the dungeon, injuring Shisan and rescuing Nie Zhe. Before escaping, the intruder kills Sun Ruoshui with a precise strike to the Baihui acupoint. When Cai Zhao expresses her desire to pursue the killer and seek justice for her uncle, Mu Qingyan pushes her away, telling her to leave if she is so desperate for her freedom.

Cai Zhao finally departs with Song Yuzhi and reunites with her master, Qi Yunke, and Song Shijun. Upon her return to the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao is met with Qi Yunke’s stern disapproval. He reminds her of Mu Qingyan’s capacity for deceit, specifically how he lived among them for months disguised as Chang Ning. He warns her that involvement with the demonic sect only brings danger to her family and friends.

Back in the familiar surroundings of her sect, Cai Zhao is haunted by the memories of her time in the Hanhai Mountains and her feelings for Mu Qingyan. When her maid offers her favorite wontons, she finds she no longer has the heart for them, emotionally scarred by the fallout of their relationship.

Since returning to the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao has been steeped in a quiet melancholy, a feeling mirrored by Mu Qingyan, who remains listless within the Li Sect, haunted by her absence. To cheer his master, You Guanyue brings several beautiful women before Mu Qingyan. One disciple from the Qinglong Altar attempts to charm him with poetry, while another from the Xuanwu Altar offers to iron his robes using heated stones, praising the exquisite fabric.

Mu Qingyan, however, is merely irritated by the distraction. He dismisses the group but specifically demands that the maid Xing’er stay to serve him, prompting a flustered You Guanyue to usher the others away before they provoke further ire. Back at the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao finds herself at odds with the pervasive prejudice of her peers.

When fellow disciples gossip about whether the "demon sect" members live as primitive monsters, she counters by describing them as ordinary people who farm and trade. When they bring up the casualties of the Great War and label Mu Qingyan a ruthless villain, she argues that morality is rarely absolute, noting that even the "righteous" Six Sects harbor their own share of villains.

Sensing her wavering resolve, Qi Yunke uses a disturbing legend to warn Cai Zhao about the Li Sect’s deceptions. He speaks of the "Skin-Painted Demon," a creature that wears a gentle human facade to mask its bloodthirsty nature. He describes how such a demon might appear more attentive than any real friend—even waiting hours outside the Yipin Pavilion to buy a fresh roasted pigeon for its prey—only to eventually consume those closest to it.

He frames this as a cautionary tale regarding her aunt, Cai Pingshu, urging Cai Zhao not to fall into the same trap of misplaced trust. Seeking the truth behind the story, Cai Zhao consults Lei Xuming. He confirms that the "demon" was once a close companion of Pingshu, though his true identity remained a secret. Lei Xuming recalls that Pingshu once had an embroidered wrist guard made for a man by the famous Granny Needle Zhuo.

He also reflects on her childhood sweetheart, Elder Zhou, noting that while he was a man of impeccable character, his passive nature could never truly harmonize with Pingshu’s "wind and fire" spirit. Ultimately, he advises Cai Zhao to follow her Master’s guidance and move on from Mu Qingyan. Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan faces pressure from Elder Yan to marry a woman of equal status to secure the sect’s future and produce an heir.

Mu Qingyan dismisses the idea with biting sarcasm, suggesting that even a common boar could fulfill such a duty if it were merely about bloodlines. Elder Yan reminds him of the 200-year feud and the tragic legacy of Mu Donglie, but You Guanyue eventually drags the Elder away for drinks, lamenting that Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao are currently like the Cowboy and Weaver stars, pining for each other across an impassable divide.

The arrival of Song Shijun at the Qingque Sect adds further complication. He brings treasures to thank Cai Zhao for finding the hot spring stone that aided his son Song Yuzhi’s recovery, but his true intent is to propose a betrothal. This sparks intense jealousy in Qi Lingbo. Her frustration boils over when she overhears her father, Qi Yunke, repeatedly delaying her own marriage to Song Yuzhi.

Feeling abandoned, she attempts to leave the sect to seek her own path, and though her senior brother, Dai Fengchi, tries to stop her, he eventually offers to accompany her. Rumors of an elopement between Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi soon spread, causing a scandal. To silence the gossip, Cai Zhao confronts the disciples on the training ground. When they mock her, she challenges them to a duel.

During the fight, her Sunshine Blade is so fierce that Song Yuzhi steps in, allowing her to vent her frustration on him rather than the others. The confrontation is interrupted by the arrival of Zhou Yuqi, Cai Zhao’s fiancé. He praises her martial skills and attempts to reclaim his place at her side, though she remains noticeably detached. In private, Zhou Yuqi explains he is there to finalize their wedding.

When Cai Zhao asks about his mother, Lady Min, and her history with Cai Pingshu, he describes her as a woman consumed by the complex management of Peiqiong Manor. He promises that once they are married, Cai Zhao will take over these duties. Later, Song Yuzhi gifts Cai Zhao a collection of intelligence handbooks and secret techniques.

He tells her she is an eagle meant for the sky, not a sparrow to be caged, and encourages her to follow her heart if she has doubts about the marriage. As the day ends, Yang Xiaolan comes to say goodbye. She is returning to the Siqi Sect because her father’s concubine is forcing her into an arranged marriage.

Inspired by Cai Pingshu’s legacy, Xiaolan is determined to fight for her own dreams and advises Cai Zhao to listen to her inner voice when making difficult choices. The next morning, Min Xinrou arrives with lavish betrothal gifts from the Zhou family. Qi Lingbo, watching with interest, notices Min Xinrou’s intimate knowledge of Zhou Yuqi’s personal habits, from the specific canopy in his room to the garments he wears against his skin.

Realizing Min Xinrou is in love with her "brother," Lingbo initially delights in the idea of Cai Zhao having a rival. However, Nanny Mao warns her that if Cai Zhao’s marriage fails, Song Yuzhi will never turn his attention back to Lingbo. Realizing her own happiness depends on it, Lingbo becomes the most desperate person to ensure Cai Zhao’s wedding proceeds.

Yin Sulian visited Qi Yunke late at night, bringing a medicinal soup to help him recover from his travels and seclusion. During their talk, she brought up the marriage between their daughter, Qi Lingbo, and Song Yuzhi, noting Lingbo’s deep concern during his absence. Qi Yunke remained firm, insisting that marriage must be based on mutual affection rather than force.

This provoked a bitter reaction from Yin Sulian, who accused Song Yuzhi of being just like Qi Yunke—falling for a woman from the Cai family and neglecting his duty. The argument resurfaced painful memories. Years ago, after Cai Pingshu’s death, Qi Yunke suspected Yin Sulian was responsible and fell into a state of grief and neglect.

Yin Sulian had mocked his tears, reminding him of his status as the Sect Leader of Qingque and claiming Cai Pingshu had many other men to mourn her. Despite his resentment toward the sect, Qi Yunke had stayed to fulfill his responsibilities. Back in the present, Qi Yunke admitted his internal energy was disordered, nearly leading to a cultivation deviation, and expressed his wish for Lingbo to find true happiness rather than a forced union.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan tried to use the Ziwei Scripture to neutralize the poison in his body, but the effort was futile. He recalled being told that the rare Purple Jade Golden Sunflower might be the key to his recovery. As Ruxin prepared to leave for a secluded life, Mu Qingyan asked her about the whereabouts of Lu Chengnan, the most loyal of the elders. Ruxin recalled that Lu had vanished after their master's death, noting his fondness for Osmanthus Wine.

Mu Qingyan connected this to a memory of a memorial service held by the late Chang patriarch, realizing the "old friend" being honored with Osmanthus Wine was likely Lu Chengnan. News of Cai Zhao’s impending marriage to Zhou Yuqi soon reached Mu Qingyan, leaving him anxious. In the Zhou household, Min Xinrou was equally distressed, fearing she would be displaced once Cai Zhao became the mistress of the manor. Zhou Yuqi comforted her, showing his deep affection.

Simultaneously, Cai Zhao received a mysterious note suggesting that Lu Chengnan had taken the Jade Sunflower to the Chang family and that their massacre was linked to it. Following her late aunt’s advice to follow her heart, Cai Zhao admitted she did not want to marry Zhou Yuqi and shared the new lead with Song Yuzhi.

The next day, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi used the anniversary of the Chang patriarch's death as a pretext to head to the Chang manor. They were joined by Qi Lingbo, Zhou Yuqi, and other disciples. However, the group split up when Min Xinrou fell ill with a cold, and Zhou Yuqi stayed behind to care for her. When the rest arrived at the Chang manor, they found Mu Qingyan and You Guanyue already searching for clues.

Qi Lingbo was outraged to discover that the man she knew as Chang Ning was actually Mu Qingyan, the Chief of the Li Sect. Fearing a losing battle, Cai Zhao intervened to maintain a tense peace, allowing both sides to depart separately. That evening, Mu Qingyan revealed he had purchased the only inn in town to ensure Cai Zhao stayed there. He visited her room with wontons, urging her not to marry Zhou Yuqi.

He shared his theory that Lu Chengnan had fled to the Chang manor while injured, and that the attackers had failed to find the Jade Sunflower during the massacre—which explains why they later kidnapped him while he was disguised as Chang Ning. When Mu Qingyan insulted the other sect leaders as hypocrites, Cai Zhao became defensive of her elders and ordered him to leave.

Outside, Mu Qingyan encountered Song Yuzhi, and the two exchanged sharp words regarding their reputations and betrothals. The following morning, Zhou Yuqi arrived at the inn to apologize for his delay. Seeing his bond with Min Xinrou, Cai Zhao suggested postponing their wedding, citing her need to avenge the Chang family and help Song Yuzhi. Nearby, Song Yuzhi finally told Qi Lingbo he wanted to break their engagement.

Devastated, Qi Lingbo refused to accept it, vowing to wait for him indefinitely. Later, Song Yuzhi informed Cai Zhao that he had initiated the cancellation of his own betrothal, promising to be more attentive to her in the future.

Song Yuzhi remains firm in his decision to end his engagement with Qi Lingbo, informing Cai Zhao that he has already spoken to her and will formally break the betrothal once they return to their sect. Although he attempts to find a private moment to speak more deeply with Cai Zhao, they are interrupted by their fifth senior brother, who is busy preparing offerings for an upcoming ritual.

Later, as Song Yuzhi visits the Chang family gravesite, he is struck by a wave of jealousy when he witnesses the obvious closeness between Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan. Mu Qingyan explains his suspicion that the Jade Sunflower is hidden within the cemetery, as Nie Zhe’s men have already scoured every corner of the Chang Fort without finding it.

Song Yuzhi arrives and immediately begins to bicker with Mu Qingyan, acting protectively toward his junior sister, but Cai Zhao stops their argument to focus on the task at hand. Recalling a time from her childhood when she was sunburned while visiting the site with her father, she discovers a bronze mirror mounted on a stone pillar. She realizes the mirror was designed to concentrate sunlight, but since the pillar has sunk into the ground, its alignment has shifted.

Cai Zhao deduces that the ground must have been hollowed out. Relying on her knowledge of the Shi brothers—expert tomb builders and friends of her aunt, Cai Pingshu—she identifies the location of a hidden entrance. The group finds a concealed subterranean passage guarded by a "Turnback Wall," a specialty of the Shi brothers. Mu Qingyan produces a key given to him by the late Hero Chang, which fits the lock perfectly.

Inside the tomb, they find the coffin of Lu Chengnan. A memorial tablet stands nearby featuring an inscription in Cai Pingshu’s handwriting that praises him as a noble hero. Upon examining the remains, Mu Qingyan discovers that the body’s chest and ribs were shattered by the Flying Cloud Heart-Crushing Palm, a signature technique of Nie Hengcheng. This confirms that the former sect leader had indeed murdered his own disciple.

However, the Jade Sunflower is nowhere to be found, and the group is forced to leave without the artifact. As they emerge from the tomb, they find their companions captured by Nie Zhe and Yu Huiyin. Nie Zhe demands the Jade Sunflower in exchange for the hostages’ lives. Thinking quickly, Cai Zhao tosses a landmine disguised as the treasure toward them.

The resulting explosion severely injures Yu Huiyin, giving the group a chance to escape while Nie Zhe and his men flee in the chaos. In the aftermath, Qi Lingbo’s resentment boils over. She accuses Cai Zhao of being manipulative and leading on both Mu Qingyan and Song Yuzhi. Song Yuzhi defends Cai Zhao, explaining that the alliance with the Li Sect was his own strategic choice to capture the culprit behind the Chang family massacre.

Later, the captured Elder Hu Fengge reveals that the true mastermind behind the recent tragedies is actually someone from the Six Sects. Song Yuzhi refuses to believe that his peers could be traitors, but Cai Zhao is more skeptical. She reminds him that even respected leaders can be swayed by a single moment of malice, noting the past case where Hero Wu was harmed by Leader Qiu Yuanfeng. She resolves to find the treasure and uncover the full truth.

Meanwhile, the eldest senior brother watches Qi Lingbo’s heartbreak with a heavy heart, unable to voice his own feelings for her. That evening, Zhou Yuqi and Min Xinrou visit Cai Zhao to thank her for providing medicine. Seeing the deep affection between them, Cai Zhao begins to think of a way to cancel her own wedding with Zhou Yuqi so the two can be together. Mu Qingyan soon summons Cai Zhao with a secret signal.

He tells her that her master, Qi Yunke, has not shared the whole truth about the past. He suggests that since Cai Pingshu did not love Lu Chengnan, her heart belonged to someone else in the Li Sect—the real "Skin-painted Demon." Cai Zhao recalls her aunt mentioning a friend who sent her persimmon cakes and then went to a far-off place, a memory that now feels heavy with hidden meaning.

The following day, Mu Qingyan instructs his subordinate to lure Cai Zhao away using clues about the persimmon cakes. During their meeting, Mu Qingyan expresses his refusal to let her marry another, eventually pulling her into a passionate kiss that leaves her blushing and flustered. Simultaneously, Mu Qingyan orchestrates a scene in town involving a couple trapped in a miserable marriage because they were forced to abandon their true loves years ago.

Watching the woman suffer, Min Xinrou is deeply affected and decides to distance herself from Zhou Yuqi for his sake. As Mu Qingyan’s plan unfolds, a fortune teller approaches Zhou Yuqi, warning him that his future marriage is cursed.

Mu Qingyan meticulously arranges for his subordinate to pose as a fortune teller to intercept Zhou Yuqi. After using a confusing incense to loosen the young man's tongue, the subordinate listens as Zhou Yuqi reveals the struggle in his heart. Since childhood, he has been deeply in love with his sworn sister, Min Xinrou, who sought refuge with his family after her own fell on hard times.

Though his father arranged a prestigious marriage for him when he was twelve to secure his position as the Family Head, Zhou Yuqi remains torn. He admits that while his fiancée, Cai Zhao, is clever and beautiful, she is also strong enough to thrive without him, whereas Min Xinrou would have no future if he abandoned her. Seizing the moment, the man offers him a tea infused with a potion called "Coward's Courage."

After drinking it, the sudden surge of boldness convinces Zhou Yuqi to finally break off the betrothal. Meanwhile, Cai Zhao is still lost in the memory of Mu Qingyan’s recent kiss when Zhou Yuqi arrives. He tells her plainly that he wants to end their engagement, confessing that he feels mediocre and intimidated by her strength and decisiveness. He claims to desire a wife who is gentle and virtuous, traits he associates with Min Xinrou.

Cai Zhao, far from being heartbroken, readily agrees to call off the wedding. While she is relieved, her fifth senior, Fan Xingjia, is furious at the insult and wants to retaliate. However, You Guanyue acts quickly to spread the news of the broken engagement throughout the town and the Jianghu. By the next morning, Zhou Yuqi has already left with Min Xinrou to inform his family elders.

Cai Zhao quickly deduces that Mu Qingyan orchestrated the rapid spread of the news and confronts him. Mu Qingyan feigns innocence, claiming he was merely helping a pair of "unfortunate mandarin ducks" and suggesting that Cai Zhao only wanted the marriage for the wealth of Peiqiong Manor. Later, Zhou Yuqi and Min Xinrou unexpectedly return to apologize. The seniors, still protective of Cai Zhao, give Zhou Yuqi a harsh beating to vent their anger.

Cai Zhao eventually leaves a letter claiming she needs to travel to clear her mind, but she secretly joins Mu Qingyan on a mission to find the Shi brothers. As they begin their journey, Nie Zhe is consumed by a desire for revenge against Mu Qingyan but is stopped by a mysterious man in black. The stranger promises that Mu Qingyan will voluntarily show up at their doorstep in a few days.

Unaware of this looming threat, Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan travel through difficult terrain. When she becomes exhausted, Mu Qingyan tenderly carries her on his back. They eventually reach a scenic mountain peak where they are surrounded by colorful butterflies. The tranquil, poetic environment momentarily captivates them both. Back at the sect, Qi Yunke arrives and is worried about Cai Zhao's disappearance.

He warns Song Yuzhi and the others about the dangers of the demonic sect, comparing Mu Qingyan to a wolf invited into one's home. He instructs his disciples to search for Cai Zhao secretly and orders them to kill any demonic cult members found with her. Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan eventually take shelter from a storm.

Mu Qingyan shares stories of his father, who studied medicine in hopes of living as an itinerant physician far from the conflicts of the Jianghu. This knowledge proves useful when Cai Zhao begins eating an excessive amount of Hexagonal Persimmons to find a specific childhood taste that might lead them to the Shi brothers. Mu Qingyan warns her that the fruit is "cold" in nature and uses his inner power to help her digestion, preventing her from falling ill.

Using the taste of the persimmons as a guide, they track the Shi brothers to a specific town. To lure them out, they rent a stall and pretend to sell the Sunshine Blade, a famous weapon belonging to Cai Pingshu. Cai Zhao demands an outrageous price of 100,000 taels. An old man approaches, mocking the blade’s appearance but acknowledging its sharpness before leaving. Suspicious, the pair follows him into the outskirts.

Though they suspect the old man is an agent for Nie Zhe, they are eventually cornered by a large group of experts. Realizing they are vastly outnumbered and facing a sophisticated formation, Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan are forced to jump into a river to escape the trap.

After narrowly escaping Nie Zhe’s ambush by jumping off a cliff, Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan managed to find safety. However, Cai Zhao soon deduced that the recent ordeal had been orchestrated by Mu Qingyan as part of a calculated plan. Confronted with her suspicions, Mu Qingyan admitted that he was indeed practicing the forbidden Ziwei Method and required the Jade Sunflower to complete his cultivation.

He explained that his acquisition of the cultivation medium had been accidental, but Cai Zhao, furious at his deception, vowed to prevent him from obtaining the relic. Their dispute was interrupted by Nie Zhe’s trackers, but they were rescued just in time by an old man named Shi Tieqiao, who recognized Cai Zhao as the niece of his old friend, Cai Pingshu. Shi Tieqiao led them to a secluded mountain retreat that mirrored the landscape of Luoying Valley.

During their stay, Mu Qingyan questioned why the Shi brothers had not intervened when the Chang clan was slaughtered. Shi Tieqiao explained that Cai Pingshu had once warned Chang Haosheng to either build a massive army or vanish entirely like they had. Chang Haosheng’s decision to remain only "half-retired" had left his clan vulnerable as their power waned over the years.

As Cai Zhao pressed for information about the Jade Sunflower, Mu Qingyan suddenly collapsed, his body finally succumbing to the poison he had been suppressing. When Mu Qingyan regained consciousness, he tried to downplay his condition, claiming his internal energy and the medicine Cai Zhao had previously brought from the Hanhai Mountains would sustain him. Cai Zhao saw through his bravado, reminding him that his pulse had nearly vanished the night before.

She personally fed him a bitter detox decoction known to suppress even corpse poison. Later, while Cai Zhao prepared "Smiley" pastries in the kitchen, the scent attracted Shi Tiefeng. The second brother, impressed by her skill, reminisced about Pingshu’s own cooking and accidentally let slip that the Jade Sunflower had been entrusted to a former member of the Li Sect who was a close friend of Pingshu.

Elsewhere, Qi Lingbo approached her father, Qi Yunke, to officially break off her engagement to Song Yuzhi. She described him as a cold and narrow-minded man, preferring to maintain only their bond as fellow disciples. Her father agreed to the request, though he remained preoccupied with the hunt for Nie Zhe and the search for the missing Cai Zhao.

Meanwhile, Dalou brought ginger soup to Lady Yin, who lamented that she had never possessed her daughter's courage to move on from the past. Back at the retreat, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao analyzed the ambushers' techniques. They suspected the six sects were involved, noting that the attackers utilized a sword formation based on the Big Dipper footwork, similar to the Xuantian Sword Formation. During a farewell dinner, Shi Tieqiao shared the history of the Jade Sunflower.

He revealed that Lu Chengnan had once fled to Chang Fort with Mu Zhengming’s help. Before dying, Lu Chengnan gave the relic to Pingshu, explaining that his master had been using it to drain the life force and inner power of others to fuel the Ziwei Method, leaving behind only desiccated corpses. Lu Chengnan had stolen the relic to stop his master’s descent into madness and the slaughter of his fellow disciples.

Although the relic was supposedly left with Pingshu, Cai Zhao realized she had never seen it during her years with her aunt. The evening was interrupted when the third Shi brother, Guo Zigui, woke from a decades-long coma. Mistaking Cai Zhao for Pingshu, the frail man asked about the state of their sect. To comfort him, Cai Zhao lied, claiming Pingshu was merely resting in Luoying Valley and describing a peaceful, lively sect.

The tragic truth of Guo’s life then emerged: he was a junior disciple who had grown up with Cai Zhao’s mother. During a past raid on the Li Sect, he had been captured in the Eight-Claw Prison and brutally tortured. Despite his resilience, he was eventually drugged into signing a surrender letter. Yin Dai, the sect leader, had slandered him as a coward and refused to rescue him, even after the Guo family offered their entire fortune.

Only Pingshu had been brave enough to save him, though he was left permanently broken. Sensing his end, Guo Zigui gave Cai Zhao his family’s last heirlooms to serve as a dowry for her mother. That night, he passed away peacefully, dreaming of a final, happy reunion with his parents and old friends.

With heavy hearts, the Shi brothers, Cai Zhao, and Mu Qingyan laid Guo Zigui to rest. After years of enduring relentless physical pain and the stigma of being hunted by his own sect, his passing felt like a final liberation. The Shi brothers spoke bitterly of Yin Dai, explaining that his refusal to save Guo Zigui years ago was a calculated move to seize the Guo family’s estate.

The grand residences and palaces now owned by the Yin family—such as the Twin Lotus Pavilion—were built on assets Yin Dai claimed after labeling Guo Zigui a traitor. Mu Qingyan further revealed Yin Dai's true nature, explaining that his primary motivation had always been the Ziwei Method. Yin Dai had incited the Six Sects to attack the Li Sect under the guise of justice, but his real goal was to uncover how Nie Hengcheng had achieved such immense power.

He had even sacrificed his own disciples to capture Elder Kaiyang and secure the cultivation manual. Knowing that Cai Pingshu would eventually see through his schemes, Yin Dai tricked her into practicing the Disintegration Method, hoping to eliminate both her and Nie Hengcheng at once.

Reflecting on this, Cai Zhao recalled how her aunt had pushed her to practice martial arts despite her own injuries, realizing her aunt had foreseen these dangers and wanted her to be able to protect herself. The following day, Cai Zhao prepared to leave with Mu Qingyan, carrying Guo Zigui’s ashes and his treasured sword. The Shi brothers requested that she give the ashes to her mother, Zi Feng, to be scattered near his parents' graves in Jiangdong.

As for the sword, which Yin Dai had originally gifted him, Guo Zigui wanted it returned to the Qingque Sect as a sign that he was leaving the sect of his own accord, no longer wishing to be a disciple. Meanwhile, at the Li Sect, Xing’er grew anxious over Mu Qingyan’s month-long absence. She urged You Guanyue to find him, but he jokingly suggested the Young Lord was likely enjoying his time with Cai Zhao and wouldn't appreciate the interruption.

During their journey, Cai Zhao shared her theory that the mysterious man in black might be the same "skin-painted demon" who had befriended her aunt. They analyzed the fall of Chang Fort, noting that the fortress’s internal mechanisms changed every three years, meaning only an insider or someone guided by one could have breached it. They focused their suspicion on Wang Yuanjing.

Years ago, Wang Yuanjing had entered the Eight-Claw Prison with Guo Zigui; while Guo was captured and tortured, Wang Yuanjing had walked out unscathed. Mu Qingyan recalled the memorial service, noting that Wu Yuanying’s reaction toward Wang Yuanjing was not one of recognition or joy, but of pure hatred. Upon returning to the Qingque Sect, they were met by Fan Xingjia, who informed them that rumors of their elopement had caused a scandal.

Cai Zhao’s parents and Lord Yang had already arrived to deal with the fallout. Wang Yuanjing, meanwhile, had secluded himself at Taichu Temple, claiming to be focused on alchemy and seeking transcendence to escape the vengeful spirits of his past. To uncover the truth, Cai Zhao devised a plan. She had Fan Xingjia present a fake "Nine-Turn Life-Returning Pill" to Wang Yuanjing, claiming it was a legendary elixir of immortality.

While Wang was distracted, they secretly introduced a sleeping drug into his alchemical furnace. As the drug took effect, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao appeared before a hallucinating Wang Yuanjing, masquerading as figures from his past. Terrified, Wang Yuanjing confessed his crimes. He admitted that he had left his senior brother to suffer in the Eight-Claw Prison because he wanted to secure his path to becoming the Lord of Taichu Temple.

However, his plan failed when Qiu Yuanfeng won the leadership through flattery and by inheriting their uncle’s power. Later, the man in black, who knew of Wang's cowardice in the prison, blackmailed him into leading the demonic sect into Chang Fort. Wang had even drugged Luo Yuanrong to facilitate the massacre and frame her. Mu Qingyan demanded the name of the man in black, promising to keep Wang's secrets if he cooperated.

Wang Yuanjing noticed Mu Qingyan held the Chaos Needle and realized he couldn't escape. Just as he was about to identify the mastermind, he was struck and killed by a hidden arrow fired from outside. As Taichu Temple disciples rushed in, Li Min accused them of murder. To protect Cai Zhao, Mu Qingyan stepped forward and declared that he alone had killed the Lord, claiming Cai Zhao was merely a hostage.

He used the confusion to pull Cai Zhao away and escape. Cai Zhao’s parents soon arrived to find a chaotic scene. Zi Feng wept over the ashes of Guo Zigui, while Cai Pingchun nearly came to blows with the grieving Taichu disciples who insulted Guo's memory. Li Min demanded justice, insisting Cai Zhao be punished for colluding with the Li Sect. Cai Zhao stood her ground, exposing Wang Yuanjing’s role in the destruction of the Chang clan.

Though the room was filled with shock, the Taichu disciples were unwilling to let her go. Qi Yunke eventually intervened, using his authority as the head of the Six Sects to take Cai Zhao into custody at the Qingque Sect to prevent further violence. In the days that followed, rumors branded Cai Zhao a "demoness" for her association with Mu Qingyan. Confined to the sect, she was visited by her parents.

When Zi Feng asked about her time away, Cai Zhao looked away bashfully, admitting that Mu Qingyan had treated her very well. Her soft expression and the flush on her face made it clear to her mother that her feelings for the Young Lord of the Li Sect had grown deep.

Cai Zhao’s parents were deeply concerned about their daughter’s state of mind after her return to the sect. During an intimate conversation, Cai Zhao candidly admitted that she had fallen in love with Mu Qingyan. She explained that while her broken engagement with Zhou Yuqi had not caused her any grief, the prospect of never seeing Mu Qingyan again left her feeling hollow. Her parents, however, remained fearful.

They reminded her that the "righteous" sects were already plagued by vile individuals like Yin Dai, and they worried Mu Qingyan might be as treacherous as the skin-painted demon that once deceived her aunt, Cai Pingshu. Her parents then revealed a long-hidden secret regarding the death of her aunt. Years ago, Cai Pingshu, Qi Yunke, and five others—including the now-crippled Uncle Lei—had secretly practiced a powerful formation derived from the Big Dipper to defeat Nie Hengcheng.

However, their secret hiding place was leaked to the skin-painted demon, leading to a brutal ambush that decimated their ranks before the final battle. This betrayal forced Cai Pingshu to face the enemy alone and eventually led to her tragic death. Her mother pleaded with Cai Zhao to learn from the past and avoid following in her aunt's footsteps.

Mu Qingyan soon sent a letter to Cai Zhao, claiming he had found clues regarding the mysterious Man in Black and inviting her to meet. Haunted by her parents' warnings, Cai Zhao sent a firm rejection, stating she would find the truth on her own. Meanwhile, her senior brothers urged her to consider marrying Song Yuzhi to secure a powerful alliance.

Song Yuzhi’s father, Song Shijun, was equally enthusiastic, presenting the keys to over a hundred estates as a formal proposal to protect Cai Zhao’s reputation amidst the rising rumors. Song Yuzhi eventually met Cai Zhao by a lakeside decorated with flowers. He confessed his feelings and formally proposed, but Cai Zhao gently refused.

She told him that while she appreciated his attempt to rescue her from her current predicament, she refused to be a coward who hid behind her senior brother while he took the blame for her choices. Song Yuzhi, hiding his bitterness, asked her for the bowl of lotus congee she owed him. He remarked that the dish starts bitter but leaves a sweet aftertaste—a subtle reflection of his own unrequited feelings.

Mu Qingyan risked entering Cai Zhao’s room that night, offering to abandon everything and leave the martial world with her. However, Qi Yunke discovered him. During their confrontation, Qi noticed Mu Qingyan’s wrist guard and realized it was the same one Cai Pingshu had once given to the skin-painted demon. Mu Qingyan explained it was his father’s relic, leading Qi to conclude that Mu Zhengming was the demon.

Qi recalled how the demon had once saved him and Pingshu from thugs and won Pingshu’s trust with kind words and irises, only to betray them later. Mu Qingyan managed to escape the ensuing fight, leaving Qi Yunke to forbid Cai Zhao from ever leaving the sect again. Seeking the truth, Mu Qingyan questioned Elder Yan Xu about his father’s past. He discovered that Mu Zhengming had a twin brother named Mu Zhengyang.

Years ago, their mother had fled with the twins, but only Mu Zhengming remained in the sect while the other was believed dead. When Mu Zhengyang returned years later to reclaim his inheritance, Nie Hengcheng branded him with the character "Abandoned" and drove him away. Mu Qingyan realized that his father had hidden Mu Zhengyang and taught him martial arts, and only Cai Pingshu could have proven his existence. He suspected his uncle, Mu Zhengyang, was the true demon.

Mu Qingyan returned to Qingque Sect, determined to explain the truth to Cai Zhao. Qi Yunke, however, had already organized the other sect leaders to set a lethal trap using "Thunderstorms," a type of vicious explosive the sect usually disdained. Cai Zhao’s parents tried to lure her away to Jiangdong under the pretense of escorting Guo Zigui's ashes, but she quickly saw through the deception.

Realizing Mu Qingyan was being ambushed, she rushed back to find him heavily wounded and surrounded by her master and other sect elders. Despite the overwhelming force, Mu Qingyan refused to leave without seeing her. Cai Zhao eventually intervened, drawing her weapon to protect Mu Qingyan and openly defying her parents and the sect.

Cai Zhao disregarded the stern warnings of her elders and stood firmly in front of Mu Qingyan to protect him. Mu Qingyan, despite being severely injured, did not flee. Seeing his harrowing condition, Cai Zhao struggled to hold back her tears, convinced that the skin-painted demon could not possibly be his father.

Mu Qingyan produced evidence to prove that Mu Zhengming was innocent of those crimes, but as the leader of the Li Sect, he was still viewed as a threat. Qi Yunke and the other leaders refused to let him go, and in the chaos, Cai Zhao was struck unconscious to end her interference. In the aftermath, the sect leaders examined Mu Qingyan's evidence and were stunned to find a marriage contract between Cai Pingshu and a man named Mu Zhengyang.

This man was a mystery to them, as if he had appeared from nowhere. The elders recalled a refined and talented man who had once befriended them, but they had never known his true identity. Despite the revelation that Mu Qingyan’s father was not the skin-painted demon, Qi Yunke remained cold, stating that Mu Qingyan could not be absolved because of his ties to the demonic sect.

Meanwhile, news arrived that Nie Zhe had taken advantage of Mu Qingyan’s absence to seize control of the Bliss Palace. Song Shijun cautioned Qi Yunke against falling for Nie Zhe’s trap, noting that the traitorous subordinate wanted nothing more than for the Six Sects to execute Mu Qingyan so he could solidify his own power.

After careful deliberation, Qi Yunke decided that instead of execution, they would abolish Mu Qingyan’s cultivation by destroying his dantian and meridians, imprisoning him for life to prevent any future trouble. Seeking vengeance for his master Wang Yuanjing, Li Min slipped into the dungeon intent on killing Mu Qingyan. However, Song Yuzhi arrived just in time to stop him.

Song Yuzhi reminded Li Min that acting out of hatred might lead to a scandal that would tarnish the late leader's reputation, as Wang Yuanjing was known for his benevolence. Once Li Min left, Song Yuzhi questioned Mu Qingyan about why he had risked his life to come to the Qingque Sect.

Mu Qingyan admitted it was a gamble; he knew that unless he stood before her elders and faced death, Cai Zhao might never believe his explanation or choose him over her sect. Song Yuzhi could only call him a madman for betting his life on such a slim hope. Cai Zhao remained under house arrest, appearing calm on the surface.

She knew that Mu Qingyan had already spent five years in darkness as a child, and she believed that life imprisonment would be a fate worse than death for him. Her parents, hoping to comfort her, suggested that once his cultivation was abolished, they could take him back to Luoying Valley to live out his remaining days in peace. The following morning, Cai Zhao surprised everyone with a hearty appetite.

While eating with Fan Xingjia, she revealed her true intention: she planned to die alongside Mu Qingyan. Softened by her resolve, Fan Xingjia helped her disguise herself as a servant to infiltrate the dungeon, with Qi Lingbo even providing secret assistance because she was moved by Mu Qingyan’s sincerity. However, Qi Yunke had already moved Mu Qingyan to a secret location. Frustrated, Cai Zhao pleaded with her uncles for a chance to see him.

She spoke passionately, defending Mu Qingyan and arguing that the Six Sects were acting like villains. She pointed out that he had never harmed them and that his hands were far cleaner than those of leaders like Yin Dai. Her mother, Lady Ning, also fiercely defended her daughter’s sense of loyalty, criticizing the hypocrisy of the Six Sects and even threatening to reveal the dark secrets of Yin Dai and Wang Yuanjing if they continued to deny Cai Zhao’s request.

Eventually, Song Yuzhi took pity on the pair and allowed them a final meeting. Mu Qingyan was a gruesome sight, covered in blood and bound by heavy chains. Cai Zhao handed him a luminous pearl, knowing he was secretly afraid of the dark from his childhood trauma. She hoped the light would bring him comfort in the lightless dungeon. Mu Qingyan remained defiant, declaring that even if he were reduced to ashes, he would find a way back to her.

Knowing that Qi Yunke was monitoring them from the shadows, Cai Zhao forced herself to speak coldly. She claimed she would never abandon her parents or her sect for him and declared that they were severing all ties. Song Shijun observed the strange behavior of the younger generation and warned his son not to interfere further, suspecting that Cai Zhao’s sudden compliance might be a prelude to something more significant.

That evening, Cai Zhao solemnly promised her parents that she would witness the execution of Mu Qingyan's cultivation and then return with them to Luoying Valley, vowing to leave the martial world behind forever. During a quiet moment, Uncle Zhou recalled the past, mentioning the Moon Shadow style and how Cai Pingshu had once been his fiancée before their lives were torn apart by the war between good and evil. He realized that Cai Zhao’s aunt had truly cared for him, even after their paths diverged.

Mu Qingyan was brought to the execution grounds before the gathered leaders of the righteous sects. Qi Yunke, the leader of the Qingque Sect, denounced the Li Sect for its history of violence and formally announced the decision to destroy Mu Qingyan’s meridians. The plan was to strip the young lord of his martial arts and keep him imprisoned within the Qingque Sect for the rest of his life.

Mu Qingyan responded with a bitter smile, mocking the hypocrisy of the Beichen sects. He accused them of standing by while the innocent suffered and abetting evil under the guise of justice. Despite his severe injuries making it nearly impossible for him to stand, Lord Yang and other sect leaders showed no mercy, demanding that he either kneel or crawl like a common criminal.

Seeing the grim fate awaiting Mu Qingyan, Cai Zhao stepped forward to plead with her master, Qi Yunke, asking if there was any room for negotiation. When Qi Yunke remained resolute, Cai Zhao took a desperate gamble and placed a blade to her own throat, threatening to die alongside Mu Qingyan. Distraught by her actions, Qi Yunke rushed forward to stop her. This was the opening Cai Zhao had orchestrated.

She used the chaos to release Drizzle Numbing Powder into the air, drugging the leaders. In the ensuing confusion, she freed Mu Qingyan and began their escape. As they fled, Song Yuzhi prepared to intervene, but his father, Song Shijun, held him back. Shijun urged his son to consider his future with Cai Zhao, suggesting that Mu Qingyan’s disappearance would actually improve Yuzhi’s chances of winning her heart.

He even instructed Yuzhi to feign a reaction to the Chaos Needles—which Cai Zhao had obtained from the armory with the secret help of Fan Xingjia—to avoid having to take a side. However, other disciples launched a volley of arrows at the fleeing pair. A giant eagle descended to carry them away, though both Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan were already wounded and weakened.

That night in the forest, Cai Zhao struggled through her own pain to dress Mu Qingyan’s wounds. Mu Qingyan tried to assist her, but he suddenly collapsed as a hidden poison took hold of his system. Cai Zhao realized that the needles used by the executioner, Li Min, had been coated with Cold Spirit Powder. This lethal substance from Taichu Temple trapped the victim in a cycle of searing heat and freezing agony.

Remembering a remedy her mother had crafted from snow lotus, a rare herb from the extreme cold, Cai Zhao realized it was her only hope to save him. Back at the sect, Qi Yunke recovered from the minor injuries Cai Zhao had inflicted on him. It was noted that Cai Zhao had clearly held back, as she did not intend to kill her master or her fellow disciples.

Qi Yunke felt a profound sense of betrayal, especially as it was confirmed that Li Min had tampered with the execution needles to ensure Mu Qingyan would not survive. Desperate for medicine, Cai Zhao ventured into a nearby town. Though she was penniless and considered robbery, she found she could not bring herself to steal from hard-working locals or those who showed kindness to others. Ultimately, she chose to pawn her precious childhood necklace to afford the snow lotus.

While in town, she overheard the common people branding her a "demoness" and a traitor, claiming she had brought shame to Luoying Valley. Returning to their hideout, Cai Zhao carefully brewed the medicine and prepared a pot of porridge. While Mu Qingyan remained in a trance-like state, she spoke to him of her home.

She shared stories of the local porridge shop in Luoying Valley and recounted a childhood memory of trying to buy porridge for her sick aunt, only to trip and spill it just as she reached her door. She confessed through tears that she had sacrificed her reputation and hurt her loved ones to save him, begging him to live so she wouldn't be left alone. Mu Qingyan eventually regained consciousness, having heard her words in his weakened state.

He took her hand and promised that they would rely on each other and find a sanctuary far from the strife of the martial world. Meanwhile, Qi Yunke came into possession of Cai Zhao’s pawned necklace, realizing the pair must be nearby. Song Yuzhi, encouraged by his father to pursue his feelings regardless of propriety, volunteered to search for her. Elsewhere, Nie Zhe grew frustrated with the Six Sects' incompetence.

Suspecting that his subordinates might still harbor loyalty to the former young lord, he ordered Elder Hu to monitor them closely and eliminate anyone found aiding Mu Qingyan. As Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan prepared to continue toward the Hanhai Mountains, they shared a quiet moment by the fire. Mu Qingyan looked at the moon, noting that no foreign sky could match the light of home. He promised a tearful Cai Zhao that one day, he would ensure she could return to Luoying Valley to see her parents and brother again.

Cai Zhao woke from a deep sleep on Mu Qingyan’s shoulder to find Xing’er standing nearby, smiling. News of Cai Zhao’s daring rescue of Mu Qingyan at the execution ground had already swept through the Jianghu. Within the Li Sect, she was now widely celebrated, with everyone—including the imprisoned Elder Yan Xu—considering her the future Lady of the sect.

While Cai Zhao felt embarrassed and urged Mu Qingyan to clarify the situation, he harbored no desire to correct the rumors, his eyes reflecting a quiet hope for their marriage. Upon their return to the village, Xing’er expressed her fury over You Guanyue’s opportunistic defection to Nie Zhe following Mu Qingyan’s capture. She also shared that Elder Yan Xu had been locked in the Archive again after publicly berating Nie Zhe for nearly ruining the sect's foundation.

During their stay, they met Xue Youfu, who was struck by Mu Qingyan’s resemblance to his uncle, Mu Zhengyang. Xue recalled how Mu Zhengyang and Cai Pingshu had been deeply in love. He lamented that if Mu Zhengyang had chosen a simple life with her instead of pursuing his "great cause" of reclaiming the Chief position from Nie Hengcheng, they might have found the happiness that eluded them in death.

Deeply moved by the stories of the previous generation and unwilling to let history repeat itself, Mu Qingyan gathered his courage and proposed to Cai Zhao. That night, however, Cai Zhao was haunted by a disturbing nightmare. She dreamt of Cai Pingshu’s wedding, only to find the groom was a hideous skin-painted demon that transformed into Mu Qingyan, who then turned a blade upon her. She woke in a cold sweat, relieved it was only a dream, yet deeply unsettled.

As Mu Qingyan began to recover thanks to the snow lotus Cai Zhao provided, she noticed that the pursuers from the Six Sects had vanished. She realized that the only way to force the sects to stop their hunt was to threaten their families. She confronted Mu Qingyan, who admitted he had orchestrated the kidnapping of various disciples' families, including Zhou Yuqi, to use as leverage.

He confessed that his entire capture had been an elaborate "chain scheme"; he had used himself as bait to flush out traitors and gambled on Cai Zhao’s love to save him. Heartbroken at being utilized as a chess piece, Cai Zhao attempted to leave, but Mu Qingyan became desperate, threatening to kill the hostages to force her to stay.

Meanwhile, Qi Yunke and Song Shijun discussed the situation, with Qi Yunke placing his faith in Cai Zhao’s integrity to see through the deception and return home. Mu Qingyan then set the final stage of his plan, luring Nie Zhe into a trap at the foot of the mountain. You Guanyue, who had only pretended to defect, claimed that Si'en was not Nie Zhe’s biological son but was actually the child of Yu Huiyin and another man.

He pointed to a hereditary green mark on the butterfly bone as proof. Driven by suspicion, Nie Zhe forced Yu Huiyin to reveal the mark on her back, confirming the trait. In the ensuing chaos, Ru Xin took her own life to protest Nie Zhe's cruelty and prove Si'en's legitimacy. Devastated by the death of her companion and Nie Zhe’s heartlessness, Yu Huiyin turned on him and stabbed him to death.

Mu Qingyan’s strategy successfully eliminated his rival while leaving Yu Huiyin responsible for the murder. Though the threat was gone, Cai Zhao remained deeply disappointed by Mu Qingyan’s ruthless "killing with a borrowed knife" methods. When she prepared to depart, Mu Qingyan was so overwhelmed by agitation that he fainted. After he regained consciousness, he found that she had stayed behind only to plant blood-activating herbs to aid his recovery.

She maintained a cold distance, though Mu Qingyan vowed to release the hostages and seal the Youming Path, hoping to turn the Li Sect into a secluded haven where they could live in peace. Later, Xue Youfu provided Cai Zhao with travel gear and showed her a painting Mu Zhengyang had made of Cai Pingshu.

Looking at the image, Cai Zhao was struck by the resemblance between herself and her aunt, as Xue reflected on the extraordinary nature of the woman Mu Zhengyang had once loved.

Cai Zhao sought out Uncle Xue to uncover the truth about Mu Zhengyang’s character. With a heavy heart, Uncle Xue recounted Mu Zhengyang’s desolate childhood as a beggar who fought dogs for scraps and endured the relentless cruelty of village children. Moved by pity, Uncle Xue had once intervened to save him, and his mother eventually adopted the boy. However, their peace was short-lived.

After Uncle Xue’s father died in a hunting accident, local bullies targeted the vulnerable family, leading to a midnight home invasion that left the mother dead. Driven by vengeance, Mu Zhengyang burned the villains’ lair to the ground before he and Uncle Xue began a life of wandering. Their path took a sharp turn when a traveler mistook Mu Zhengyang for the Young Lord of the Li Sect.

Haunted by fragmented memories of a privileged infancy and a twin-like companion, Mu Zhengyang became obsessed with his origins. He eventually left for the Hanhai Mountains and returned years later as a changed man, his back marked by a mysterious tattoo and his heart hardened by a quest to reclaim his birthright.

During a final meeting with Uncle Xue before his planned marriage to Cai Pingshu, he confessed a paralyzing fear: he believed that if she ever saw the bloodstained reality of his soul, she would abandon him. Listening to the tale, Mu Qingyan remained unmoved, coldly stating that his father had caused enough chaos in the martial world to forfeit any pity.

While Fan Xingjia waited at the sect gates for her return, Cai Zhao shared a final evening with Mu Qingyan. He led her to a garden he had planted for her shortly after she first left the sect, a gesture of quiet devotion. In return, she gave him a painting of her childhood village, describing the scent of the local pastry shop and the forbidden books in the local shop that she was never allowed to touch.

She urged him to find happiness and suggested he didn't need the "Seven Insects Seven Flowers" poison to ensure the loyalty of subordinates like You Guanyue. Though she confessed her deep love for him, she admitted she could not stay to watch him repeat Mu Zhengyang’s blood-soaked mistakes. Believing that a path of corpses could never lead to a true home, she chose to leave and face the consequences of her actions.

The following morning, You Guanyue searched for Cai Zhao only to find she had already departed. Upon her return to the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao was met with a physical assault and public shaming from Qi Lingbo, who accused her of betraying the sect for a demon. Standing before the council of leaders, Cai Zhao surrendered the Sunshine Blade and her Heart-Protecting Chain, declaring herself unworthy of her family's legacy.

While figures like Li Wenxun and Yang demanded harsh retribution, others reminded the council of the debt owed to Cai Pingshu. Ultimately, Qi Yunke decreed a sentence of seven lashes from the Bone-Piercing Python Whip, followed by a year of isolation at the Thousandfold Cliff. That evening, Qi Yunke personally administered the punishment. With every strike, memories of a warmer past—buying candy and childhood training—flashed through his mind as Cai Zhao’s parents watched in agony.

Cai Zhao drew strength from the memory of her aunt, who had taught her that while loving the wrong person was a mistake to be corrected, one must never stop loving out of fear. She endured the brutal ordeal until she collapsed. Afterward, she was moved to a secluded cavern for her year of confinement. To aid her recovery, Qi Yunke provided a rare medicine brewed from the "Withered Branch" herbs he had long saved for Cai Pingshu. Meanwhile, at the Li Sect, a distant and resolute Mu Qingyan ordered that Cai Zhao’s name never be spoken again, effectively severing their ties.

To save Mu Qingyan, Cai Zhao endured seven agonizing lashes of the python whip. While she survived the ordeal, the deep wounds required a long recovery. Consequently, Qi Yunke sentenced her to one year of confinement in a remote cavern on the Thousandfold Cliff to reflect on her actions. During this isolation, Song Yuzhi was the only person permitted to visit and provide for her.

When Mu Qingyan learned of this arrangement, he felt a measure of relief, knowing Song Yuzhi’s attentive nature would ensure her well-being. Publicly, however, Mu Qingyan maintained a cold distance, ordering the Li Sect to never mention Cai Zhao's name again, declaring that they were now strangers. Despite his harsh decree, he secretly left her a luminous pearl, knowing her fear of the dark, so she might find some peace while sleeping in the cavern.

Song Yuzhi visited Cai Zhao regularly to bring her meals and essentials. During one visit, he returned a necklace she had previously pawned and brought specialized medicine sent by Manor Head Zhou to aid her healing. Despite being injured by her during the sect's recent turmoil, the Manor Head bore no ill will, recognizing she had acted under duress.

Cai Zhao also spent her time reflecting on the past, specifically the tragic history between her aunt, Cai Pingshu, and Mu Zhengyang. She realized her aunt had ultimately moved on from those feelings before her passing. Emulating that strength, Cai Zhao asked Song Yuzhi for paper and ink, intending to spend her confinement writing stories. Within the Qingque Sect, Qi Lingbo experienced a change of heart.

She approached her father, Qi Yunke, expressing a desire to leave the mountain and perform heroic deeds like the legendary Cai Pingshu. She admitted that her past jealousy of her father's attention to others was misplaced, as she now understood the heavy burdens he carried as leader of the Six Sects. Though Qi Yunke wished for her to remain safe at home, he eventually allowed her to venture out.

Meanwhile, the sect faced financial difficulties after donating reserves to relief efforts and waiving disciple fees. While Fan Xingjia worked to keep the sect afloat, the Second Senior Brother, Dai, decided to head down the mountain to establish trade routes and protect Qi Lingbo on her journey. In her cavern, Cai Zhao realized that her year of isolation was actually a protective measure by Qi Yunke to shield her from the political fallout of her association with the demon sect.

She dedicated herself to writing storybooks, which Song Yuzhi helped proofread. During their conversations, Qi Lingbo also reflected on her rivalry with Cai Zhao, realizing she didn't hate her but rather envied her unrestrained freedom. She encouraged Song Yuzhi to follow his own heart and seek his own happiness. Within the Li Sect, Hu Fengge had been treating Yu Huiyin’s injuries. Since Yu Huiyin had killed the previous Chief, Nie Zhe, she was a targeted woman.

While Hu Fengge urged her to leave the sect for her own safety, she discovered Yu Huiyin meeting with a mysterious masked man. This figure ordered Yu Huiyin to eliminate Hu Fengge, claiming she was no longer useful. Yu Huiyin stabbed her, but Hu Fengge survived because her heart was uniquely located on the right side of her chest—a secret she had kept even from those she loved. Mu Qingyan rescued her and offered her a place of loyalty.

Remembering Cai Zhao’s advice about earning trust through sincerity rather than force, Mu Qingyan chose to trust Hu Fengge without forcing her to take the poisonous Sevens Pill. The atmosphere at the Li Sect turned festive for the wedding of You Guanyue and Xing'er. Mu Qingyan provided a grand gift and oversaw the ceremonies.

Even during the celebrations, he continued to investigate the secrets of the Ziwei Method, suspecting that Mu Zhengyang had also practiced the technique and had hidden motives. Across the mountains, Song Yuzhi brought Cai Zhao some "Kaikouxiao" wedding sweets sent by the newlyweds. Seeing that her confinement was nearly over, and encouraged by his elders to be bold, Song Yuzhi proposed to Cai Zhao.

He expressed his willingness to marry into her family at Luoying Valley, even agreeing that their children could take her surname. However, Cai Zhao gently declined, explaining through a metaphor of a lost childhood toy that she could not simply replace her first love with another. As the year ended, a new shadow fell over the martial arts world. Qi Lingbo and Dai were attacked by corpse slaves while investigating disappearances.

They were saved by Song Xiuzhi, the eldest son of the Guangtian Sect. This news shocked the sects, as Mu Qingyan had strictly forbidden the creation of corpse slaves. Qi Yunke suspected the Li Sect of duplicity, while others feared a new power was emerging. Amidst this tension, Song Yuzhi received word that his father, Song Shijun, had suddenly gone into secluded cultivation. Sensing something was wrong, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi immediately set out for the Guangtian Sect.

Upon their arrival, they found a confrontation underway. The Siqi Sect and the Huangsha Gang had come to demand justice, accusing Song Shijun of murdering the Huangsha Gang to hide his illegal refining of corpse slaves. A survivor named Sha Tian'er testified against him, showing a flower-shaped scar—a mark of the Song family's technique.

Cai Zhao tried to defend her uncle, arguing the technique could be imitated, but the tension peaked when Song Shijun himself burst out of his chamber, looking crazed and displaying the horrifying symptoms of becoming a corpse slave.

Song Shijun stumbles out of the residence in a mindless frenzy, attacking everyone in his path. Seizing the opportunity, Yang Heying incites the crowd to retaliate, leading to a brutal assault on Shijun. Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi desperately attempt to protect him, but they are overwhelmed. During the struggle, Yuzhi is struck by a hidden weapon coated in Purple Vine poison—a lethal toxin from the Blood Marsh Forest that seals the meridians and kills within two days.

Though they suspect Yuzhi’s brother might have an antidote, Cai Zhao realizes returning to the Guangtian Sect would be a death trap. With Song Shijun clearly under someone else's control, they flee toward the Blood Marsh Forest to find a cure. Meanwhile, Yang Heying continues his ruthless pursuit of Cai Zhao, acting as a pawn for a mysterious man in black.

Cai Pingchun and his wife arrive at the Guangtian Sect after being diverted by false reports, only to find that Pang Xiong has helped Shijun break through the blockade. Upon examining Shijun, Cai Pingchun discovers that someone has injected high-level inner power into him to mimic the effects of Puppet Gu, a condition that will eventually turn him into a living corpse.

Seeing no other choice, they take Shijun back to Luoying Valley to use specialized herbs to dissolve the poison. As the group nears the Blood Marsh Forest, they are cornered by Yang Heying’s men and the Siqi Sect’s curved blade formation. Just as the situation turns dire, Mu Qingyan arrives and repels the attackers. He then guides Cai Zhao, Fan Xingjia, and the poisoned Yuzhi through the forest's dense, poisonous fog.

That night, as the toxin spreads rapidly through Yuzhi’s body, Cai Zhao is forced to ask You Guanyue for medicine. Mu Qingyan allows it and, despite his silence toward Cai Zhao, he personally tends to her wounds. While observing Yuzhi’s injury, Cai Zhao notices the attacker was familiar with the Song family’s techniques, suggesting the betrayal came from an insider.

Determined to find the Night Orchid—the only plant capable of neutralizing the toxin—she ventures deeper into the forest the next morning. Mu Qingyan follows her, rescuing her from a hidden trap and covering her with his cloak after noticing the scars on her back. Using her knowledge of ancient Luoying Valley arrays, Cai Zhao successfully navigates the maze-like terrain. Deep within the forest, they encounter Granny Jiang, who mistakes them for Mu Zhengyang and Cai Pingshu.

She reveals that years ago, Pingshu and Zhengyang sought the Night Orchid, but Pingshu later returned alone and heartbroken, setting up protective arrays to keep others away. Granny Jiang explains the history of Cai Anning, a Luoying Valley ancestor who planted the Night Orchid to cure villagers, only to be labeled a demoness by outsiders driven by greed.

Cai Zhao successfully uses the Night Orchid to treat Yuzhi, but her relief turns to anger when she catches Mu Qingyan attempting to take the flower for himself. She realizes the Night Orchid is a vital medium for practicing the Ziwei Method, much like the items Mu Zhengyang once manipulated her aunt into finding.

Accusing him of being a "skin-painted demon" like his uncle, she attacks him, but Granny Jiang intervenes, noting that Mu Qingyan’s willingness to risk his life in the poisonous fog proves his true feelings. Meanwhile, the group discusses a dark possibility: Song Yuzhi’s brother, Song Xiuzhi, likely poisoned him to eliminate a rival for the position of Sect Master, harboring years of resentment over their father's blatant favoritism.

Fan Xingjia focused his efforts on extracting the essence of the Night Orchid using a vapor distillation technique he learned from Wang Yuanjing, creating a refined essence to serve as a permanent replacement for the plant in treating Song Yuzhi’s injuries. Nearby, Cai Zhao prepared a medicinal tea for Granny Jiang, which successfully neutralized the toxins in her body and allowed the villagers to finally plan their departure from the Blood Marsh Forest.

As they prepared to leave, Cai Zhao asked the elderly woman about the past, specifically how Mu Zhengyang had apologized to her aunt, Cai Pingshu. Granny Jiang recalled that while they had eventually reconciled after Pingshu vented her anger, they later separated permanently after her aunt discovered his deceptions. Reflecting on her own heart, Cai Zhao realized that while she could not change what had happened, she had to move forward.

Mu Qingyan’s condition continued to worsen as the cultivation of the Ziwei Heart Scripture and lingering poisons took their toll on his body. Cai Zhao brought him the Night Orchid essence and pleaded with him to stop his cultivation of the dangerous scripture, warning that it would lead to his death within three years.

Mu Qingyan revealed that his father had been aware of the risks but felt bound to use the power to find the "Man in Black," the true culprit behind the deaths of his father and Master Chang. Cai Zhao admitted her deep regrets about their meeting, wondering if her life would have been simpler had she stayed in the Luoying Valley, yet she made a final offer: if he abandoned the Ziwei method, she would remain by his side.

That night, Cai Zhao burned the remaining Night Orchid to ensure the forbidden scripture could no longer be fueled. Mu Qingyan chose to honor their pact, abandoning the path of Ziwei and reclaiming their connection. The following morning, the villagers began their trek out of the Blood Marsh Forest. Because of Mu Qingyan’s controversial status as the leader of the Li Sect, he could not accompany Cai Zhao back to the Guangtian Sect.

Song Yuzhi insisted on this separation to avoid further scandal, reminding Mu Qingyan of the life-threatening whip punishment Cai Zhao had suffered for him a year prior. Upon reaching the Guangtian Sect, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi happened upon Yang Heying berating his daughter, Yang Xiaolan. He was furious that she refused to marry Song Xiuzhi or follow his orders to drug Xiuzhi to ensure their control over the sect.

Mu Qingyan soon appeared to confront Yang Heying about the "corpse slaves" near the sect, demanding to know if the Man in Black or Yu Huiyin was behind the experiments. Yang Heying initially denied everything, but Yang Xiaolan, disgusted by her father’s cruelty, exposed his secrets. She revealed that six months ago, people had vanished near a secluded yard her father owned, which he later burned to destroy evidence, resulting in her mother's death.

Broken by his daughter's accusations and Mu Qingyan’s threats against his young son, Yang Heying confessed that a masked man had taught him how to create corpse slaves to frame Song Shijun and seize power, fueled by his long-standing resentment of the Guangtian Sect. The confrontation escalated when Qi Yunke and Song Xiuzhi arrived. Yang Heying tried to retract his confession, claiming Mu Qingyan had coerced him, but Cai Zhao dismantled his lies.

Yang Xiaolan further pointed out that the assassin who had attacked Song Shijun, Sha Tian’er, was not a real member of the Yellow Sand Gang but a trained plant. In the ensuing chaos, Yang Heying inadvertently implicated Song Xiuzhi, revealing that his actions were intended to secure the leadership for his son-in-law. While Xiuzhi maintained a facade of innocence, Yang Xiaolan broke her betrothal and returned his token.

The struggle for leadership culminated in a formal duel between the two brothers. Song Yuzhi, though weakened by poison and injuries, faced his elder brother according to sect custom. During the fight, Song Xiuzhi used hidden weapons to gain an unfair advantage and was declared the next leader. Although Qi Yunke was disappointed, he felt bound by tradition to accept the result for the sake of unity.

Amidst the tension, a different bond was formed; the second senior brother, Fengchi, who had risked his life for Qi Lingbo during their travels, proposed to her. With Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi’s support, Qi Yunke gave his blessing, provided the marriage was approved by Lingbo’s mother. The next day, Song Yuzhi and Cai Zhao returned to Luoying Valley to care for Song Shijun.

The elder Song regained consciousness briefly, but he was delirious and could only cry out against his "unfilial son" before falling back into a coma. This confirmed Song Yuzhi’s suspicions about his brother’s treachery, and he vowed to train harder to eventually reclaim his father’s position. Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan made a final visit to Song Xiuzhi.

He realized that Xiuzhi was merely a pawn in the Man in Black’s scheme, having been manipulated by a fabricated letter from his late mother. Seeing that killing Xiuzhi would achieve little, Mu Qingyan let him live in his hollow power to serve as a distraction for the real enemy.

Back in the valley, Song Yuzhi was enjoying breakfast with the locals when Mu Qingyan arrived at Luoying Valley in a grand procession, carrying numerous treasures to formally propose marriage to Cai Zhao.

Mu Qingyan leads a grand procession into Luoying Valley with the explicit purpose of proposing to Cai Zhao. Seeing this, Song Yuzhi becomes deeply concerned, warning Mu Qingyan that his sensitive identity as the leader of the Li Sect could bring trouble to Cai Zhao and her home. He urges the young master to leave to prevent a potential conflict between the six orthodox sects and the Li Sect.

However, Cai Zhao pulls Mu Qingyan aside to demand the truth behind his sudden theatricality. Mu Qingyan admits that the massacre at Chang Fort was orchestrated by the man in black to obtain the Jade Sunflower. Knowing the enemy is desperate to complete their cultivation, Mu Qingyan has spread word that the treasure is among his father's relics. By offering it as a betrothal gift, he intends to lure the man in black out of hiding.

The betrothal gifts Mu Qingyan brings are meticulously selected to win over Cai Zhao's family. He presents Valley Master Cai with a dragon hook for his fishing hobby and offers a rare bottle of Shennong Nectar, the king of all poisons. Young Cai Han is easily won over by the toys Mu Qingyan brings, and the family eventually accepts him as a guest. While staying in the back courtyard, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao discuss her late aunt, Cai Pingshu.

Mu Qingyan expresses deep admiration for the heroine’s fiery spirit and independence. Cai Zhao recalls how her family was once saved from Nie Hengcheng’s disciples by the combined efforts of her aunt and Qi Yunke. She reveals that for over a decade, Qi Yunke visited for a month every year, using his own inner power to sustain the ailing Cai Pingshu after her meridians were destroyed.

Meanwhile, Song Shijun finally regains consciousness, his thoughts immediately returning to the safety of the Guangtian Sect. He vaguely remembers questioning his eldest son, Song Xiuzhi, about his whereabouts before being struck down and infected with a Puppet Gu. Sensing an impending storm within the six sects, he warns Song Yuzhi to act with extreme caution. The next day, Mu Qingyan explores the local market and samples the famous spring tofu pudding Cai Zhao often praised.

He realizes the vendor is using high-level Tai Chi techniques to grind the beans, concluding that the notorious thieves and outlaws of the past have actually been living peaceful, honest lives within the valley for years. That evening, Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao walk to the peach tree where Cai Pingshu is buried.

Mu Qingyan is so moved by the beauty of the valley that he expresses a wish to either marry into the family or eventually have his ashes buried there. The following day, while playing marbles with Cai Han, the boy playfully begins calling Mu Qingyan his brother-in-law. The sight of the marbles triggers a memory for Cai Zhao; she remembers playing with a small, blackened object as a child that fits the description of the Jade Sunflower core.

Recalling the monthly letters between her aunt and Abbess Jingyuan, she suspects the two were secret confidantes despite their public rivalry and that the treasure was entrusted to the Abbess for protection. The group travels to Xuankong Nunnery to meet Abbess Jingyuan. The Abbess admits she has the object but never knew its true name, only that Cai Pingshu told her to destroy it if it was ever in danger of being stolen.

She allows Mu Qingyan to use the Jade Sunflower to heal the cold aura that has been restricting his cultivation. During the wait, Abbess Jingyuan shares how she and Cai Pingshu became friends after the heroine saved the nunnery's disciples from Nie Hengcheng’s forces. She admits she stayed away from Luoying Valley only because she wanted to remember her friend as a vibrant warrior rather than a bedridden patient.

Just as Mu Qingyan’s recovery is nearly complete and Cai Zhao prepares to destroy the relic, the nunnery is ambushed by men in black. The attackers slaughter the disciples and use Fan Xingjia’s life as leverage, forcing Cai Zhao to surrender the Jade Sunflower. Although the enemy believes the Night Orchid is lost, Fan Xingjia reveals that he had secretly kept a small portion of it to give to Qi Yunke.

Simultaneously, Yu Huiyin arrives with her followers to eliminate Mu Qingyan. However, Hu Fengge suddenly appears to settle an old debt. Despite Yu Huiyin’s hollow apologies for her past betrayals, Hu Fengge kills her without hesitation. Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao manage to escape the chaos, but Cai Zhao is gravely wounded. Disregarding his own fragile state, Mu Qingyan spends days using his inner power to save her. When she finally wakes, she tells him that the martial arts aura of the man in black felt strangely familiar.

After several days of unconsciousness following the ambush at the temple, Cai Zhao finally woke to find Mu Qingyan watching over her. He had stayed by her side for nights, even bringing her "Smiley" cakes, though he teased that they were not as good as the ones she made herself. When Cai Zhao asked how he managed to escape the powerful man in black, Mu Qingyan remained vague, simply stating he had his ways.

However, he shared a troubling observation: the aura and techniques of the man in black felt remarkably similar to those of the Qingque Sect Leader, Qi Yunke. Cai Zhao found it hard to believe her master could be the culprit, but the pieces began to fit together. Fan Xingjia had already handed the Night Orchid to Qi Yunke, and with the Jade Sunflower now in the villain’s possession, it was clear someone was attempting to master the forbidden Ziwei Method.

Fearing the rise of a second Nie Hengcheng, Cai Zhao was determined to intervene. Mu Qingyan tried to stop her, but Cai Zhao insisted that her life was her own to risk and that she could not sit idly by. Mu Qingyan eventually led Cai Zhao to the grave of Mu Zhengyang, where he had discovered a hidden handbook.

The records revealed a dark history: after being hidden in the Jiuzhou Archive by his brother, Mu Zhengyang discovered the ancient Ziwei Method. He learned that the technique required the "Blood Relative Danyuan" power to achieve mastery; without absorbing the life force of a close blood relative, the user would fall into deviation and die. To avenge himself against Nie Hengcheng, Mu Zhengyang had lured the demon into practicing the method, knowing it would eventually destroy him.

He had also deliberately approached Cai Pingshu to obtain the necessary dragon saliva and Night Orchid. The handbook further detailed the tragic end of their predecessors. While Mu Zhengyang truly cared for Pingshu, his ambition for power led him to ambush her friends to prevent them from forming a powerful sword array against him. However, the betrayal of Lu Chengnan exposed the truth to Pingshu.

Despite their marriage vows, Pingshu eventually cornered Mu Zhengyang near the Bliss Palace and killed him with her Sunshine Blade. Mu Qingyan also realized why Mu Zhengyang had tried to kidnap him as an infant—he had been targeted as the blood relative needed for his uncle's final step to power. Cai Zhao refused to stand by while history repeated itself, arguing that those who watch evil from the sidelines are also at fault.

Despite Mu Qingyan’s warnings that Qi Yunke’s cultivation had already reached the third level, she prepared to leave. Behind her, Mu Qingyan’s health took a turn for the worse; he spat blood and collapsed, having taken a dangerous, "tiger-wolf" medicine to sustain his strength just to ensure he could see the matter to its end.

Returning to the foot of the Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao met Song Yuzhi, who revealed that the man in black who attacked them at the temple was actually Uncle Li. When they hurried back to the sect, they witnessed a shocking scene: Qi Yunke was in the process of killing Li Wenxun.

Qi Yunke claimed he was executing Li to avenge Cai Pingshu, but a dying Li Wenxun managed to expose the truth—Qi Yunke intended to use his own daughter, Qi Lingbo, as the blood sacrifice needed to complete the Ziwei Method. Chaos gripped the Qingque Sect. Many disciples found themselves imprisoned and weakened by heavy doses of sleeping powder. Cai Zhao narrowly avoided capture by hiding in the back mountains, pursued by Qi Yunke’s men.

Meanwhile, Qi Yunke deceived Yin Sulian, telling her that the demon sect had invaded and killed Lord Zhou, urging her and Qi Lingbo to stay hidden for their safety. Cai Zhao managed to slip into the residence of the stubborn Qi Lingbo, who had been throwing a tantrum after being restricted by guards. Despite the danger, Lingbo initially refused to leave her home. At the same time, Qi Yunke confronted a bound Song Yuzhi.

The Sect Leader revealed his twisted vision of a unified Jianghu, claiming that the current martial arts world was stagnant and corrupt. He intended to destroy the existing major sects and merge them into one, eventually leaving the unified sect to Song Yuzhi and Cai Zhao. He even claimed he would offer his own head to "cleanse" the sect's shame once the path was cleared. Horrified by the bloodshed, Song Yuzhi begged his master to stop, reminding him of the righteous path he once taught, but Qi Yunke remained obsessed with his dark transformation.

Qi Lingbo stared in disbelief, unable to accept that her father would heartlessly sacrifice her life to practice a forbidden martial art. Yin Sulian finally woke up from her delusions, realizing that Qi Yunke’s past claims of being unable to part with his daughter were merely a facade to hide his dark ambitions. Filled with grief, Yin Sulian begged Cai Zhao to take Qi Lingbo away and seek refuge anywhere—even with the demon sect—just to keep her safe.

She recalled her own father, Yin Dai, once admitting he could never become the greatest warrior because he could not bear to lose his daughter, a stark contrast to the man Qi Yunke had become. Qi Yunke soon stormed into Yin Sulian’s courtyard, searching frantically for his daughter. Unbeknownst to him, Yin Sulian had already ushered the two girls toward a secret passage.

When confronted, Qi Yunke finally dropped his mask, admitting his deep-seated hatred for Yin Dai and the entire Yin bloodline. He revealed that he had betrayed Yin Dai years ago by leaking his location and drugging his guards with "Soft Tendon Powder" to ensure their defeat. When Yin Sulian attempted to trigger a hidden mechanism to stop him, she failed. Her loyal nanny stepped forward to protect her but was ruthlessly killed by Qi Yunke’s men.

Trapped by her husband, Yin Sulian listened as Qi Yunke reminisced about the first time he saw her, when he viewed her as a heavenly fairy. However, that dream had long since soured. He mocked her as a shallow woman, far inferior to the noble Cai Pingshu. He especially loathed her for a cup of tea she had once served him, which caused him to sleep through the critical hours when Cai Pingshu needed saving.

Despite his brutality, Yin Sulian refused to reveal Qi Lingbo’s location. From their hiding spot on the roof, Cai Zhao and Qi Lingbo watched in horror as Qi Yunke murdered Yin Sulian. After the slaughter, Qi Yunke brazenly announced to the sect that Yin Sulian and Qi Lingbo had been murdered by the demon sect to fuel his own agenda.

Meanwhile, Cai Zhao and Qi Lingbo managed to flee toward the back mountain, only to be intercepted by Uncle Li (Li Wenxun). Cai Zhao fought desperately to protect her senior sister, sustaining a serious injury. In a moment of desperation, Qi Lingbo drew a blade against her own throat, threatening to end her life and ruin Qi Yunke’s chance of mastering the Ziwei Method unless they let Cai Zhao go. Reluctantly, the guards allowed Cai Zhao to escape.

Cai Zhao stumbled her way to Lei Xiuming’s residence. Though Lei Xiuming had known of Qi Yunke’s schemes, his physical disabilities had left him powerless to intervene. Cai Zhao spoke of her late aunt, Cai Pingshu, who had chosen to fight Nie Hengcheng even knowing the cost, driven by a desire for a peaceful world.

Moved by Cai Zhao’s resolve, Lei Xiuming provided her with a gold pill to restore her strength and gave her the antidote to the weakening powder used on the other disciples. He revealed that Song Yuzhi was being held at the Discipline Hall while the others were imprisoned in the back mountain dungeon.

At the same time, Qi Yunke prepared for his final breakthrough, promising Song Xiuzhi and Uncle Li that he would help them secure their desired positions once he mastered the Ziwei Method. Driven by greed and fear of being purged for their past crimes, the two men agreed to act as his enforcers. Song Xiuzhi went to confront his younger brother, Song Yuzhi, intending to kill him to secure his own future.

Just as he raised his blade, Cai Zhao arrived in the nick of time to save Song Yuzhi. Mu Qingyan arrived at the Qingque Sect with his followers, reuniting with Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi. Together, they deduced that Qi Lingbo was likely being held at Muwei Palace, a heavily fortified training ground. Simultaneously, You Guanyue successfully persuaded the leaders of the other six sects to join forces and march on the Qingque Sect to stop the maddened Qi Yunke.

Song Yuzhi focused on liberating the imprisoned disciples from the dungeon, rallying them to stand against their master’s tyranny. At Muwei Palace, Qi Yunke began the final stage of his cultivation using his daughter’s blood, while Master Brother Zhuang stood guard outside, prepared to kill anyone who dared to interfere.

The six sects unite to march on the Qingque Sect, determined to halt Qi Yunke’s catastrophic descent into madness. Qi has been cruelly using his own daughter, Qi Lingbo, as a vessel to refine the malevolent Ziwei Method. When Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan locate her in the secret chamber, they find her barely alive.

Mu Qingyan confronts Qi regarding his contradictory treatment of Song Yuzhi, whom Qi claims to have raised for his own grand designs, but Mu exposes the truth: Qi views everyone around him merely as tools to be discarded. Qi Yunke’s treachery runs deep; he feigned poisoning to manipulate Cai Zhao into hunting for antidotes, using her efforts to facilitate his secret cultivation. As his facade collapses, it is revealed that he is the elusive man in black.

Mu Qingyan discloses that his father, the hero Chang, had long suspected the Qingque Sect’s corruption. To protect his son, Chang sent him to be raised by Qi, knowing that Qi’s singular focus on his "grand scheme" would make the sect the safest place for his child. Cai Zhao implores Qi to stop, reminding him of his past ties to her aunt, Cai Pingshu, but he is beyond reason.

He violently casts them aside, intent on draining the remainder of Qi Lingbo’s energy. Outside, the six sects storm the gates. Yang Xiaolan confronts her father, Yang Heying, to avenge her mother. When Yang Heying attempts to manipulate her with their blood ties, he tries to strike her down in secret, but Fan Xingjia intervenes, killing him to save her. Simultaneously, Song Yuzhi leads a campaign to purge his sect of traitors.

He confronts his treacherous brother, Song Xiuzhi, who attempts to usurp the sect leadership. The conflict ends in a fatal duel where Song Yuzhi kills his brother, while Uncle Li, overwhelmed by the weight of his guilt and complicity in Qi’s crimes, chooses to take his own life. Inside the chamber, Qi Yunke attempts to strike down Mu Qingyan, but a severely weakened Qi Lingbo shields him with her own life.

As Qi descends into a frantic, murderous rage, Mu Qingyan maneuvers to protect Cai Zhao. In the chaos, Cai Zhao manages to strike back at Qi, dealing him a fatal blow. The sudden injury brings Qi a brief moment of clarity. Overcome with remorse for harming Cai Zhao and hallucinating that she is Cai Pingshu come to guide him, he passes away, his obsessive quest finally at an end.

Following the chaotic aftermath of Qi Yunke's death, peace has finally begun to return to the Qingque Sect. Meanwhile, Mu Qingyan, who had been unconscious for days, awakens. Recognizing that his time is limited, he makes careful arrangements for the future of the Li Sect, entrusting its leadership to You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan, and advising them to consult with Song Yuzhi should any disputes arise with the Six Sects.

His sole remaining wish is for Cai Zhao to live a peaceful life. That night, Cai Zhao visits Mu Qingyan at his bedside. With a faint and affectionate voice, he expresses his desire to be buried under the peach trees in Luoying Valley, just as Cai Pingshu was, so that he might always remain near her. As Cai Zhao holds his cooling hand, tears stream down her face.

Mu Qingyan tenderly touches her cheek, lost in a vision of her in a wedding dress, before passing away peacefully in her arms. The next day, overwhelmed with grief, Cai Zhao carries his remains to Luoying Valley on the back of a giant eagle to fulfill his final request. In truth, however, Mu Qingyan had staged a clever ruse at the Qingque Sect, faking his own death to ensure the world would forget the identity of Mu Qingyan.

This allowed him to disappear and start a new, ordinary life with Cai Zhao, far from the burdens of his past. He returns safely to her, much to her relief. Elsewhere, Ning Xiaofeng advises Yang Xiaolan to proceed with the reforming of her sect with patience, while Cai Zhao honors Qi Yunke's memory by planting his favorite flowers at his resting place. Months later, the landscape of the Jianghu has transformed.

Yang Xiaolan has successfully mastered the Sunshine Blade technique, and Song Yuzhi has effectively restored order and prosperity to the Qingque Sect. As Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao prepare for their upcoming wedding, Mu Qingyan is full of excitement, obsessing over the details of their wedding attire and the guest list. Cai Zhao, however, remains preoccupied with business plans for their shop, leaving Mu Qingyan feeling slightly neglected and hurt.

The day of the celebration arrives, and friends from all corners of the Jianghu gather at Luoying Valley for a grand wedding. Song Yuzhi appears, looking refined and composed, earning the admiration of You Guanyue. Among the guests, Qian Xueshen arrives from Hanshan to offer a gift. Though he uses a pseudonym with the servants, Cai Zhao recognizes the name she herself had once given him, stirring memories of their past.

When Cai Zhao rushes to greet Song Yuzhi, a jealous Mu Qingyan pulls her back, eager to proceed with their vows. Amidst the jubilation and the festive atmosphere of Luoying Valley, the long-standing tensions of the past seem to fade, replaced by a sense of newfound harmony and joy.