Love Better Than Immortality Episode 4 Recap
> Love Better Than Immortality Recap
Following their growing suspicions, Qin Liufeng and Xiao Bai discussed Chun Hua's true identity, which seemed suspicious due to her lack of martial arts and unknown background. Given her apparent return from the dead and amnesia, Xiao Bai had previously informed Qin Liufeng that she might have eaten an immortality fruit. Qin Liufeng suggested she might be Hua Xiaolei, a young lady who had never left her house and whom Xiao Bai had only met once as a child.
To confirm this, Qin Liufeng proposed they go to the Hua family to borrow one of Hua Xiaolei's portraits. Later, Xiao Bai came to Chun Hua's new room. He assured her she was an honored guest of Fengming Manor and pledged to protect her with all his might. Then he invited her to the annual poetry meeting, which Fengming Manor would host in half a month. Inside the room, Shangguan Qiuyue, who was secretly present, quickly covered Chun Hua's mouth.
Using the art of pseudo sound, he mimicked Chun Hua's voice and questioned Xiao Bai's extraordinary kindness, asking why he had changed her room and invited her to the poetry meeting. Outside, Xiao Bai, holding a kite, simply told her not to worry and to trust that he harbored no ill intentions toward her. After Xiao Bai left, Shangguan Qiuyue, with a serious expression, asked Chun Hua how she managed to gain such trust from Xiao Bai.
Chun Hua casually attributed it to "a little cleverness," claiming it was all to help him obtain the mental cultivation method. Chun Hua then expressed interest in Shangguan Qiuyue’s pseudo sound technique, and he revealed she had known it before losing her memory. He then taught her the skill again. Chun Hua immediately began practicing by imitating Xiao Bai calling her name, finding it amusing.
Shangguan Qiuyue, however, grew impatient and threatened to kill her if she didn't acquire the mental cultivation method within three days. Chun Hua jokingly said he wouldn't dare kill her, but Shangguan Qiuyue grabbed her by the neck, prompting her to quickly pledge her loyalty and promise to deliver the method. She internally noted her brother's moody and dangerous nature. Meanwhile, Valley Chief Fu was determined to obtain the immortality fruit to save his wife.
He was greatly displeased by Shangguan Qiuyue's frequent disruptions and secretly incited one of Shangguan Qiuyue’s Star Deputy Chiefs, Star Deputy Chief He, to betray and kill him. Valley Chief Fu advised Star Deputy Chief He that his path was clear: either be killed by star servants or kill Shangguan Qiuyue and become the Cave Chief.
Star Deputy Chief He, believing Valley Chief Fu’s words, approached Shangguan Qiuyue under the guise of presenting a valuable "sword painting," which supposedly contained the last move of the Su family's swordsmanship, but was in fact poisoned. Ye Yan, a loyal Star Deputy Chief, appeared to protect Shangguan Qiuyue. Shangguan Qiuyue calmly put down the poisoned scroll and seized the rebel’s neck, revealing that he had been feigning injury to lure out the traitor.
He told Star Deputy Chief He that his reliance on Valley Chief Fu for courage was pathetic, likening him to a slave. Star Deputy Chief He, realizing his defeat, begged for death. Shangguan Qiuyue then recalled Chun Hua's earlier words, "Life is given but once," which seemed to soften his resolve to kill. Instead, he decided to spare Star Deputy Chief He’s life.
He then instructed Ye Yan to ensure Star Deputy Chief He remained alive and to treat him kindly in the future. Terrified by Shangguan Qiuyue's threat, Chun Hua relentlessly tried to steal the mental cultivation method, but couldn't find it anywhere. She began to suspect it was hidden on Xiao Bai himself. To improve her chances, she frequently practiced by attempting to steal silver from Qin Liufeng, though she was consistently clumsy and failed.
One day, as Xiao Bai and Chun Hua were preparing to fly kites, Chun Hua again tried to steal Qin Liufeng's silver and was caught red-handed. Chun Hua, with a surprisingly eloquent excuse, claimed it was necessary for survival in the martial arts world and that Qin Liufeng, being a dandy full of bad intentions, was a more suitable target than Xiao Bai. Xiao Bai, feeling awkward, apologized to Qin Liufeng on Chun Hua's behalf, which Qin Liufeng found amusing.
Chun Hua had explored almost all of Fengming Manor, with only one tightly locked room remaining, which she believed might contain the mental cultivation method. As she was about to enter, she encountered Xiao Bai. He inquired about her presence there, and Chun Hua, faking a sprained ankle, used it as an excuse. After a moment of silence, Xiao Bai led her into the room, which turned out to be an ancestral hall established by his ancestor, Xiao Min.
Xiao Bai burned incense before a memorial tablet without words and began to explain its origin, detailing how Xiao Min, after destroying the Star Moon Sect and causing countless deaths, felt a heavy burden of sin and set up the tablet for future generations to worship. He also mentioned that his father later converted the space into a study. Chun Hua, however, was preoccupied with finding the mental cultivation method.
Xiao Bai noticed her searching and asked what she was looking for. Chun Hua quickly claimed she was looking for paper and pen to practice her writing. Xiao Bai retrieved them for her. After a moment of embarrassment, Chun Hua wrote "the world's most handsome man" on the paper and offered it to Xiao Bai. He seemed shy and hesitant to accept it.
Misinterpreting his modesty, Chun Hua assumed he found "most handsome" too ostentatious and promptly changed it to "second most handsome." Annoyed, Xiao Bai turned and left. Pleased with her writing, Chun Hua returned to her room to find Shangguan Qiuyue waiting. He noticed the inscription "the world's second most handsome" and asked why it wasn't the first. Seizing the opportunity, Chun Hua flattered him by saying he was undoubtedly the world's most handsome.
Shangguan Qiuyue, however, immediately saw through her lie, remarking that Xiao Bai must have refused it, leading her to demote him. Chun Hua reaffirmed her loyalty, explaining her efforts to steal the mental cultivation method and mentioning her visit to the study, where she saw a memorial tablet without words. Shangguan Qiuyue murmured that Xiao Bai seemed to treat Chun Hua well, which puzzled her. He then asked if Xiao Bai had told her the tablet's origin.
Chun Hua recounted Xiao Bai’s story about his ancestor exterminating the Star Moon Sect. Shangguan Qiuyue corrected her, revealing that the Star Moon Sect was actually the predecessor of Thousand Moon Cave, and their blood feud with Fengming Manor had begun a century ago. Chun Hua expressed confusion, noting this conflicted with his earlier statement that she was merely to steal the mental cultivation method for study.
Shangguan Qiuyue then surprised her by revealing she had previously expressed a desire to learn Fengming Swordsmanship, though Chun Hua quickly added it was only for chopping firewood. Shangguan Qiuyue then took her hand, playfully offering to teach her martial arts hand-by-hand. Chun Hua awkwardly pulled her hand away, feeling that her brother's behavior was abnormal and resolving to keep her distance. Shangguan Qiuyue urged her to obtain the mental cultivation method quickly, as the poetry meeting was approaching.
Chun Hua boldly declared she would "take the mental cultivation method and Xiao Bai as soon as possible." Shangguan Qiuyue's expression instantly changed, and he sternly instructed her to focus solely on getting the mental cultivation method and to leave Xiao Bai alone. Determined to obtain the mental cultivation method, Chun Hua tried to find Xiao Bai while he was bathing in the hot springs. She approached him, using the pretext of delivering new clothes.
However, Xiao Bai quickly immobilized her with acupuncture points, and her attempt failed. Meanwhile, Shangguan Qiuyue had gone ahead to an inn to prepare for the upcoming poetry meeting. He meticulously oversaw the arrangements, scolding Star Deputy Chief Ye for any oversight. Shangguan Qiuyue stressed the importance of his sister's safety, as this was her first time leaving Fengming Manor.
He had replaced all the inn's staff, leaving only a shrewd monthly servant as a runner and some star servants who lacked martial arts skills as waiters to avoid revealing their true identities. He kept the existing shopkeeper to avoid drawing undue attention. Ye Yan suggested that Shangguan Qiuyue did not need to personally oversee these preparations, but Shangguan Qiuyue explained he wished to enjoy the festivities and to better understand the martial arts world. He also noted that people outside were spreading rumors that Thousand Moon Cave was controlled by "ugly monsters," and they needed to find opportunities to dispel such an imputation.
