Love and Destiny Episode 18 Recap, Plot

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Zhonghao, severely wounded by Yunfeng and Jiuchen, struggled to crawl back towards the black lotus, his strength failing. Just then, Qinyuan arrived. In his final moments, Zhonghao revealed to Qinyuan that Lingxi was the girl they had been searching for, that she possessed the Heavenly Lasting Mythical Sand, and that Jiuchen had hidden her. He implored Qinyuan to find and capture her before collapsing, seemingly lifeless, leaving Qinyuan stunned. Jiuchen returned to Polar Abyss, where Lingxi eagerly greeted him.

He noticed the fiery red mark had reappeared behind her right ear and immediately used his divine power to suppress it. After some time, the mark finally faded. This mark, a symbol of the former Demon Lord Wuzhiqi, signals that the demonic aura within Lingxi is gaining dominance and that the Demon Lord's return is imminent, requiring constant suppression by divine power.

Jiuchen then asked Lingxi if she would be willing to remain in Polar Abyss, to which she readily agreed, saying she would do anything to stay by his side. Sensing the gravity of her situation, Lingxi pressed Jiuchen for answers, asking what was truly wrong with her and why others sought to capture her. Though he did not directly answer, Jiuchen reassured her, promising that once he returned, he would never leave her side again.

Lingxi, filled with joy, escorted him to the entrance. After she went back inside, Jiuchen carefully sealed the palace door and set up a powerful barrier around it before departing. Unbeknownst to him, Yuan Tong observed his actions from a distance. Soon after Jiuchen departed, Yuan Tong swiftly traveled to Kunlun Mountain to inform the Queen Mother of the West about Lingxi's hiding place in Polar Abyss, prompting the Queen Mother to immediately gather her guards and head there.

Upon arrival at Polar Abyss, the Queen Mother of the West observed the barrier Jiuchen had placed at the grand hall's entrance, immediately suspecting something was amiss. The palace's immortal servant emerged to greet her, explaining that Jiuchen was not present and suggested she seek him at the Heavenly Palace. However, the Queen Mother insisted on entering, stating she had reason to believe someone with whom she had "some connection" was inside.

When the servant attempted to block her entry, he was struck down. The Queen Mother, along with her followers, stormed into the hall, searching everywhere. Lingxi, having heard the commotion from the destroyed barrier, knew intruders had arrived and quickly hid in the ice palace, cradling Wuwan. The Queen Mother's party scoured the entire main hall before eventually locating them in the ice palace.

Confronting Lingxi, the Queen Mother demanded her identity, to which Lingxi replied she was an immortal maid under God of War Jiuchen. The Queen Mother accused Lingxi of ruining her Flower Banquet, releasing the Heaven-Devouring Beast, and killing her Kunlun Mountain guards.

Lingxi calmly explained that she had gone to Kunlun Mountain to find her beast Wuwan, who had been mistakenly taken there, and clarified that she had not intentionally caused any damage, nor was she responsible for the Heaven-Devouring Beast's release or the guards' deaths. Disbelieving her, the Queen Mother ordered her guards to arrest Lingxi, intending to bring her before Immortal Lord of Universal Turn.

Lingxi protested, reminding them that she was under the God of War's protection and that his permission was required. As the Queen Mother’s guards closed in, Wuwan barked. Meanwhile, back in the Heavenly Palace, Jiuchen went directly to the Heavenly Emperor, offering to resign from his position as God of War and suggesting God of Heavenly Thunder as his successor. The Heavenly Emperor was greatly shocked and refused outright.

Just then, God of Heavenly Thunder arrived, and the Heavenly Emperor casually mentioned Jiuchen's proposal to him. God of Heavenly Thunder was equally astonished, unsure of Jiuchen's intentions. As Jiuchen was about to explain, he heard the sound of the barrier he had set up at Polar Abyss being destroyed. He quickly excused himself to the Heavenly Emperor and departed. The Heavenly Emperor, puzzled by Jiuchen's abrupt exit, ordered Ziguang to follow him.

Jiuchen arrived at Polar Abyss just as the Queen Mother of the West had found Lingxi in the ice palace, injured her, and was about to strike a fatal blow. He immediately placed himself between them, shielding Lingxi. The Queen Mother, acknowledging Jiuchen's outstanding merits, declared her intention to take Lingxi, accusing her of releasing the Heaven-Devouring Beast and causing the deaths of her Kunlun Mountain guards, and offered to overlook Jiuchen's "harboring" if he yielded.

Jiuchen firmly stated that Lingxi was a rightful resident of his Fuyun Hall and that there was a misunderstanding between Lingxi and the Queen Mother, which he would personally clarify before the Heavenly Emperor. The Queen Mother warned him that his continued protection of Lingxi, whom she deemed an "evil woman," would displease the Heavenly Emperor. Jiuchen dismissed her concerns. When she insisted on taking Lingxi by force, Jiuchen drew his Kunwu Sword, intimidating her into retreating.

He then turned to Lingxi, reassuring her that everything was fine. Knowing the matter would not simply resolve itself, Jiuchen informed Lingxi that they needed to go to the Heavenly Palace. He asked her if she was afraid, to which Lingxi responded with a feigned nonchalance, claiming she had nothing to fear as she had done no wrong, adding that she found the constant hiding unreasonable.

However, she then expressed concern for Jiuchen, worrying that his defense of her might anger the Heavenly Emperor and lead to severe consequences for him. Jiuchen lightened the mood with a rare joke, saying that having to listen to her chatter every day would indeed be a "not good ending." Lingxi immediately offered to talk less, but Jiuchen simply replied that he would endeavor to endure it, and they exchanged a knowing smile.

Before their departure, Jiuchen infused a portion of his divine essence into an Immortal knot and entrusted it to Lingxi to wear. Ziguang hurried back to the Heavenly Palace to report the incident to the Heavenly Emperor, but the Heavenly Emperor cut him off, stating he already knew, having seen the Queen Mother of the West. The Heavenly Emperor then dispatched Baishan to Polar Abyss to summon Jiuchen and Lingxi.

Upon their return to the Heavenly Palace, the Queen Mother of the West vehemently asserted Lingxi's connection to the Demon Tribe. Consequently, the Heavenly Emperor ordered Immortal Lord of Universal Turn and God of Heavenly Thunder to interrogate Lingxi at the Purple Cloud Platform, with the Queen Mother also present. Lingxi faced the accusations calmly.

She explained that she had ventured to Kunlun Mountain in search of her little beast, Wuwan, a Bai Ze beast mistakenly taken there by an immortal envoy, and clarified that Jiuchen had subdued Wuwan and gifted him to her. She steadfastly denied killing any guards or intentionally causing damage.

When pressed about the Heaven-Devouring Beast's unusual attachment to her and her presence in Jiuchen's Polar Abyss, Lingxi maintained her innocence, explaining she had sought refuge there to wait for Jiuchen as she feared returning to the Heavenly Palace after the trouble she had incited at Kunlun Mountain. Immortal Lord of Universal Turn, seeing no further progress through questioning, proceeded to test Lingxi's magical essence.

To the surprise of Immortal Lord of Universal Turn, God of Heavenly Thunder, and the Queen Mother, no demonic aura was found within her. Despite their astonishment, they had no choice but to accept this unexpected outcome. Throughout Lingxi's interrogation, Jiuchen stood silently before the Heavenly Emperor. Frustrated by Jiuchen's reticence, the Heavenly Emperor sighed and dismissed him, reminding him to remember his status. Jiuchen, acknowledging the Heavenly Emperor's words, then took the now-released Lingxi back to Fuyun Hall.

Having expended a portion of his divine essence to subtly aid Lingxi during Immortal Lord of Universal Turn's magical examination, Jiuchen's strength was severely depleted. Upon returning to Fuyun Hall, he could no longer sustain himself, and his cold disease relapsed, causing him to collapse into unconsciousness. When Jiuchen regained consciousness, he found Guanyun Hall filled with braziers, yet he still shivered uncontrollably from the cold.

Seeing his distress, Lingxi immediately embraced him tightly, using her own body warmth to warm him until he gradually felt better. Lingxi knew that Jiuchen had exhausted his magic to protect her. She recalled hearing someone say, "it was me after all," before she fainted, and remembered God of Heavenly Thunder implying she was a demon.

Overwhelmed by fear of public gossip, unforeseen misfortunes, and the prospect of implicating her family and Jiuchen, she tearfully pleaded with him to tell her what was truly wrong with her. Jiuchen did not provide a direct answer, instead simply holding her close and assuring her that everything would pass. Lingxi hesitantly produced the Immortal knot, wanting to return it to Jiuchen, yet her reluctance was evident.

Finding her conflicted expression amusing, Jiuchen told her it was now hers to keep, much to her delight. Since their return, Lingxi had noticed the absence of Shisan and Huayan. Remembering Jiuchen's earlier promise that they would return to Polar Abyss together once the current crisis was resolved, she began diligently packing all of Jiuchen's belongings—from tea sets and censers to ornaments, clothes, and books—into large chests. Fuyun Hall's main hall soon became cluttered with stacks of boxes.

Jiuchen was both amused and exasperated by her efforts. Seeing her continued busy work, he stopped her, playfully threatening to pack her into a box if he saw any more. This finally prompted Lingxi to cease her packing spree.

During this time, Lingxi also privately pondered her condition, wondering if she was becoming "demonized" despite her fifty thousand years of cultivation as a Dan Bird, recalling her strange dream of fighting God of Heavenly Thunder and the Queen Mother of the West, and her recent cravings for meat. She hoped that once they were at Polar Abyss, everything would be fine. Qingyao arrived to check on Jiuchen's health.

Upon seeing her Senior Sister, Lingxi affectionately pulled her aside to confide in her. She recounted her recent interrogation at the Purple Cloud Platform by Immortal Lord of Universal Turn, God of Heavenly Thunder, and the Queen Mother of the West, who insisted she was a demon, despite her upbringing in the peaceful Phoenix Bird Tribe.

Lingxi also revealed her inner turmoil: while Jiuchen had promised to take her to Polar Abyss for cultivation indefinitely once the Heavenly Palace investigation concluded—a prospect she would have once eagerly anticipated—she now felt an unsettling unease. Qingyao, recalling her master's cryptic words, felt a pang of worry for her innocent Junior Sister, yet she maintained a calm demeanor, gently advising Lingxi to trust Jiuchen and not overthink the situation.

Lingxi expressed sadness at the thought of not seeing Qingyao and her father often, but Qingyao reassured her that she would visit both Jiuchen and Lingxi at Polar Abyss and that their father would be at ease as long as Lingxi was doing well.

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