Love in the Clouds Episode 1 Recap
> Love in the Clouds Recap
Ming Xian, the Crown Prince of Yaoguang Mountain, had assumed a male disguise through magic since she was thirteen to compete in the Qingyun Tournament. For seven years, she led Yaoguang Mountain to victory without a single defeat. To the world, she was a valiant Warrior God of Hexu, but Ming Xian herself knew the immense pressure that burdened her, for she was always compelled to win.
Her mission was to secure the Blessed Rain for her realm, and she had been taught since childhood that she could only, and must, win. However, in the eighth annual Qingyun Tournament, Ming Xian faced Ji Bozai, a warrior from Jixing Abyss. Ji Bozai calmly drew her into his Spirit Well, a forbidden space where her spiritual power was instantly sealed, preventing her from even maintaining her armor.
Stripped of her magic, the once invincible Warrior God was forced to fight with only basic martial arts. Despite her weakened state, Ming Xian defiantly declared she could still defeat him. Yet, Ji Bozai, a former Sunken Abyss prisoner who had seemingly gained spiritual veins, was too formidable. He commented on her impressive blood magic, but asserted that everyone could lose, even her. Ming Xian was ultimately defeated, suffering severe injuries.
The crowd erupted in shock as Ji Bozai was elevated to a higher realm, bringing the coveted Blessed Rain to Jixing Abyss. Ming Xian, in contrast, was met with public scorn and blame, with people lamenting the loss of the Blessed Rain and its grave implications for Yaoguang Mountain. In that moment, Ming Xian realized that her seven years of victories meant nothing; in the eyes of the world, only the winner mattered, and she felt like a complete failure.
Upon returning to the Chamber of Ease, Ming Xian discovered her spiritual veins were broken. She confided in her companion beast, Twenty-Seven, suspecting Ji Bozai had poisoned her during the match. Her mother, Empress Jing Shu, heartbroken but resolute, ordered Ming Xian to immediately leave Yaoguang Mountain.
She instructed Ming Xian to shed her male disguise, abandon the Veil of Illusion, and live anonymously in her true form, emphasizing that staying would only lead to her death at the hands of those who coveted her position. Ming Xian, understanding her mother's profound sacrifice, tearfully vowed to restore her spiritual veins and return to the pinnacle of Qingyun one day.
Ming Xian later sought out her master, who revealed that the poison in her was called Heavenly Grief, and the mark on her spiritual veins was the Grief Blossom. This seven-petaled flower would lead to the annihilation of her primordial spirit if all its petals withered. Her master explained that Heavenly Grief destroyed spiritual veins in those who possessed them, while it could grant them to those who did not.
She was warned not to use her spiritual veins to avoid accelerating the poison's spread. To survive, Ming Xian had to find the antidote, Golden Millet Dream, within a year to repair her spiritual veins. Her master suggested that since Ji Bozai was responsible for the poison, he likely possessed the antidote, instructing Ming Xian to go to Jixing Abyss to find him, and promised to follow once she dealt with her pursuers.
Two months passed as Ming Xian covertly observed Ji Bozai, who seemed to spend his nights in lavish entertainment at Moonlit Blossoms. She noted his cautious nature, refusing food and drink from others due to his own distrust, surmising that a dark heart sees darkness everywhere. An opportunity arose when Princess Tianji hosted a celebratory banquet for Ji Bozai at the Moonlit Blossoms pleasure house. Ming Xian, now disguised as a fairy attendant named Ming Yi, infiltrated the event.
At the banquet, Ming Yi subtly provoked Sun Liao, a Jixing Abyss warrior, by feigning innocence about rumors regarding his performance in the Qingyun Tournament, skillfully implying Ji Bozai was the source. Sun Liao, angered by the perceived slight, confronted Ji Bozai, but was quickly and easily subdued. Witnessing Ji Bozai's indifference, Ming Yi attempted a different tactic, pretending to stumble to draw his sympathy. However, Ji Bozai remained unmoved, proving difficult to approach.
Just then, Lord Hanfeng (Mu Qibai), the Emperor of Jixing Abyss's younger brother, arrived with two maids under the guise of offering congratulatory gifts, intending to plant spies in Ji Bozai's household. Ji Bozai, aware of the true motive, was hesitant to accept them as it would offend Princess Tianji, who had organized the banquet. Seizing the moment, Ming Yi intervened, boldly claiming Ji Bozai had promised to take "her" back to his residence, Wugui Sea.
Ji Bozai playfully denied remembering such a promise, but Lord Hanfeng, trying to force his hand, suggested Ji Bozai take all three women. To avoid taking Lord Hanfeng's spies, Ji Bozai proposed a test: he would ask a question, and only the one who answered to his satisfaction would accompany him. Ji Bozai then asked what spirit beasts were kept in the Wugui Sea and how they should be cared for.
After the other two maids gave uninspired or overly devoted answers, Ming Yi confidently stated that Wugui Sea was stagnant and housed no spirit beasts, earning her criticism from the crowd for her perceived ignorance. However, Ji Bozai chose Ming Yi, stating that as a former prisoner, he valued true devotion above all else, and her "deep feelings" for him. Ming Yi, though still wary of his intentions, saw this as a step closer to her goal.
That night, Ji Bozai deliberately carried Ming Yi into his room at Wugui Sea, ensuring the act was observed by a spygrass in the mansion, which promptly reported to Lord Hanfeng. Inside, Ji Bozai revealed he knew Ming Yi had orchestrated the night's events, including her staged flirtation with Sun Liao, to gain entry to Wugui Sea. Ming Yi, feigning hurt and adoration, questioned his coldness, affirming her supposed admiration for him as a legendary figure.
When he pressed her about her background, Ming Yi, internally realizing she needed to divert him, tearfully claimed to be an orphan from a herb-gathering family who ended up at Moonlit Blossoms. After Ji Bozai removed her blindfold, he remarked that he disliked overly forward women, then calmly began to undress himself, leaving Ming Yi internally flustered and wondering why Twenty-Seven hadn't yet created a diversion. Suddenly, a fire erupted in the back pavilion of the mansion.
Before leaving to investigate, Ji Bozai conjured a powerful barrier, forbidding Ming Yi from exiting the room to ensure her safety, promising to return. Once he was gone, Ming Yi, despite her weakened spiritual veins, forcibly broke the complex barrier. With Twenty-Seven, she began a frantic search for the Golden Millet Dream within Wugui Sea, only to find nothing after an entire night of searching.
Twenty-Seven confessed that his attempt to create a small fire had unexpectedly escalated into a large blaze, despite his intentions. As dawn approached, Ji Bozai returned to his room, accompanied by Granny Xun, the steward of Wugui Sea. He discovered the broken barrier and Ming Yi's absence, while Granny Xun confirmed that Ming Yi was not in the room.
Ji Bozai, dismissing the fire as a natural occurrence and needing no external investigation, secretly mused about women being too aggressive, knowing he had to continue playing along for a while.
