Love a Lifetime Episode 9 Recap
> Love a Lifetime Recap
As Rong Su journeyed back to Dragon Howl City, she deliberately slowed her pace, knowing an ambush was imminent. When masked assassins indeed attacked, she instructed Xuan Ye to escort Master Xiao ahead, explaining that her own injuries had delayed them and Master Xiao needed the Chihua Pill antidote that very night. As she fought, she told her subordinates to split up to distract the enemies, promising to meet them later outside the bamboo forest.
While Xuan Ye assured the ailing Master Xiao that Rong Su had a backup plan and someone else would bring the antidote, Rong Su met privately with Mei Ying. Mei Ying recognized her as Miss Rong Su of Dragon Howl City and questioned her intentions. Rong Su clarified that an enemy of his enemy was a friend. Mei Ying confessed his hatred for the traitor who conspired with the Tang Sect and became Master Xiao, causing his Mei family's downfall.
He thanked Rong Su for providing the opportunity to avenge his father. Rong Su, accepting his commitment to revenge, told him to remember that he would be the one to kill Master Xiao. Meanwhile, with Rong Hua not having returned on time, a council was held in Dragon Howl City to address the urgent antidote situation. The discussion focused on Master Xiao's critical condition, prompting Zi Yan, the Hall of Sickness Master, to propose delivering the antidote herself.
However, Bai Weizhi objected, deeming the mission too dangerous for her. He instead suggested Lin Jing undertake the task, warning him to guard the antidote with his life. After a sarcastic remark about Bai Weizhi always assigning him risky missions, Lin Jing accepted the responsibility on behalf of the Hall of Life, and preparations were made for his departure. Master Xiao awoke in the wilderness, suffering immense pain as the Chihua Pill poison took hold.
Mei Ying stood over him, mockingly addressing him as "Master Xiao." Mei Ying accused him of betraying the Mei family to rise to power, now ironically reduced to begging the Rong family for an antidote. Master Xiao, desperate, attempted to shift the blame to the Tang Sect, but Mei Ying angrily silenced him, producing a dagger Master Xiao had once given him to protect the Mei family.
Mei Ying declared he had dreamt of this moment for years, then stabbed and killed Master Xiao, fulfilling his revenge. Lin Jing and his escort group, carrying the antidote, were ambushed by masked figures. Cornered, Lin Jing threatened to destroy the antidote if they attacked further. A subordinate reported to Rong Su that Lin Jing was cunning and willing to die with the antidote.
Rong Su, calling Lin Jing hard to deal with, decided to retrieve the antidote herself but found it destroyed in a fire. Unbeknownst to Rong Su, Rong Hua, having trusted Lin Jing's analysis, had anticipated her sister's scheme. Knowing Rong Su's deliberate delays and likely ambush, Lin Jing had foresightfully swapped the real antidote for a fake before leaving, thus averting disaster. Rong Hua realized her sister had needed the antidote for some unknown purpose.
Lin Jing, having escaped the ambush, witnessed Mei Ying’s act of revenge. Mei Ying openly confessed to killing Master Xiao to avenge his father. Lin Jing ordered Mei Ying to be taken back to Dragon Howl City. Mei Ying, unafraid, addressed Lin Jing as "Young Master," hinting that Lin Jing's true identity was his protective charm. Later, Rong Su returned to Dragon Howl City, feigning serious injuries to gain Lu Yizhou's sympathy.
She told him Master Xiao had been killed by Mei Ying and that her own injuries rendered her powerless. Lu Yizhou, genuinely concerned, expressed relief at her safety and then voiced his worries for Lin Jing's well-being. While Lin Jing calmly studied medicine, Rong Hua grew increasingly agitated.
She urged him to go to the Hall of Sickness to retrieve Mei Ying, fearing that Mei Ying might expose Lin Jing's true identity as the Young Master of Lingxu Pavilion under interrogation. Lin Jing explained that Master Xiao's death was a plot by Rong Su to steal the Chihua Pill antidote, and Mei Ying was the only witness.
He insisted Mei Ying's testimony against Rong Su was crucial, believing Mei Ying would not betray him and risk the wrath of Lingxu Pavilion. Rong Hua, however, was skeptical, reminding Lin Jing of her aunt's cruel torture methods. She deduced that Rong Su must also be anxious about Mei Ying's potential revelations. Meanwhile, Mei Ying, held in the Black Room, endured agonizing hallucinations from its poisonous smoke.
Despite the torture, he defiantly maintained he had killed Master Xiao for filial revenge and challenged his tormentors to execute him swiftly rather than prolong his suffering. Zi Yan, supervising his interrogation, explained that the Black Room's toxins penetrated the skin, making Mei Ying's Art of Turtle Breathing ineffective against the illusions. Rong Hua went to the council hall to report to Rong Jingfeng, where she encountered Rong Su.
Rong Hua confronted her sister, accusing her of risking Dragon Howl City's safety for personal gain. Rong Su, in turn, rebuked Rong Hua, challenging her authority and accusing her of relying on an "unknown man" to seize control of the Hall of Life. The two sisters exchanged accusations regarding the antidote's destruction and its implications for their father's judgment, each believing their stance would reveal the true culprit.
When they presented their arguments to Rong Jingfeng, Rong Su demanded Mei Ying's execution to set an example, stating his actions shamed Dragon Howl City. Rong Hua countered that Master Xiao was a treacherous murderer, and Mei Ying's act of filial revenge merited respectful treatment to encourage him to reveal the true plotter. Their arguments, though opposing, seemed sound.
Rong Jingfeng, the cunning City Lord, subtly indicated his decision by giving Bai Weizhi a black Go piece to deliver to Zi Yan, signifying Mei Ying's release, as he already knew the true mastermind behind the events. Following Rong Jingfeng's coded instruction, Zi Yan proceeded to release Mei Ying. Opening the door to the Black Room, she found him without breath.
Recognizing he had used the Art of Turtle Breathing, Zi Yan noted that her toxins bypassed such resistance by penetrating the skin. She ordered Mei Ying immediately moved to the Hall of Life for treatment. Later, Bai Weizhi, surprised that Mei Ying was alive, questioned Zi Yan about Rong Jingfeng's unexpected decision. Zi Yan speculated that Rong Su might have privately informed Rong Jingfeng that the Mei family was involved in the disappearance of the first Chihua Pill.
She deduced that Rong Jingfeng intended to use Mei Ying to extract secrets about Lingxu Pavilion. Lu Yizhou, recuperating, received medicine from Rong Su, delivered by Xuan Ye. Lin Jing arrived during this visit and deliberately created a scene, accusing Lu Yizhou of prioritizing romance over friendship and mocking his partiality towards Rong Su. He also chided Xuan Ye for using Hall of Life treasures as gifts for Rong Su's personal favors.
The heated argument between Lin Jing and Lu Yizhou led Xuan Ye to report their discord to Rong Su. After Xuan Ye's departure, Lin Jing explained to a puzzled Lu Yizhou that their public spat was an act to confuse Rong Su, who was trying to win Lu Yizhou over. He then revealed his real plan: to feign animosity so they could secretly return the genuine antidote (which Lin Jing produced) to Lingxu Pavilion.
Rong Su, inherently suspicious, heard Xuan Ye's report but perceived Lin Jing's tactics as too obvious and remained unconvinced. Meanwhile, Mei Ying was being treated in the Hall of Life. Rong Hua, still worried about Rong Su's murderous intent, personally took charge of his care, thwarting an attempt by a disguised disciple to approach Mei Ying.
Mei Ying, realizing Rong Hua was protecting him, provocatively hinted at Lin Jing's "interesting encounter" with him, suggesting it could be valuable information for Rong Jingfeng. Rong Hua shut down his attempts to create further mischief, reiterating her father's order for him to simply rest. Despite Rong Hua's protective care, Mei Ying remained ungrateful and continued to badmouth Lin Jing.
Following her failed attempt to seize the antidote, Rong Su sent multiple letters to the Snow Union to extend their transaction time. Her subordinate reported that despite repeated letters, the Snow Union had not replied, suggesting they were aware of her failure. Rong Su, infuriated by this setback, held Lin Jing entirely responsible for thwarting her plan. Meanwhile, Mo Huan, having received similar reports from the Snow Union, shrewdly deduced Rong Su's failure.
She observed that Rong Su was attempting to continue extracting secrets about Lingxu Pavilion but believed Rong Su was now incapable of obtaining the antidote given the unrest in Dragon Howl City. Despite her subordinate's confirmation that Lin Jing had destroyed the antidote, Mo Huan questioned if Lin Jing would truly destroy a medicine vital for his mother. She concluded that Lin Jing had cunningly faked its destruction to hide the real antidote.
Mo Huan then ordered her agents to intensify their surveillance on Dragon Howl City, anticipating Lin Jing's next move to retrieve the antidote, which she was determined to acquire. She also instructed her agents to ignore Rong Su for now, intending to "tantalize" her.
