Love in the Clouds Episode 10 Recap
> Love in the Clouds Recap
Mu Xinliu, a skilled qin player, was raised as a pawn by her brother, Mu Qibai, to curry favor with the powerful. One day, Mu Qibai ordered her to perform for Immortal Lin, a crucial figure in his bid for power. Though reluctant, Mu Xinliu had no choice but to agree. In a prior confrontation, Mu Qibai had angrily blamed Xun Ming for Xinliu's death, declaring that Xun Ming's life now belonged to Xinliu and the Mu clan.
He commanded Xun Ming to continue cultivating netherbeasts into an army as atonement. Ming Yi and Ji Bozai proceeded with their wedding preparations in Luosheng Forest, meticulously replicating the details of Xun Ming’s past wedding in an elaborate scheme to lure him. They anticipated Xun Ming's arrival, knowing his inherent curiosity would draw him to discover what trap they had set. Just as they expected, guests began to arrive, but not in the way they intended.
A large crowd of immortals, expressing congratulations but also confusion and mild annoyance at the lack of formal invitation, began to fill the venue. Ji Bozai and Ming Yi were puzzled by their presence, until Meng Yangqiu appeared, proudly announcing that he had spread the news after hearing it from Lord Hanfeng, assuming Ji Bozai wanted a grand celebration. He even grandly offered to conjure additional banquet tables. Princess Tianji also arrived, having learned of the wedding from Immortal Meng.
She confronted Ji Bozai, questioning his right to marry without her consent and reminding him of her power to revoke his status as the "warrior of Jixing Abyss." She threatened to spread rumors of his defection, which would incite other realms to denounce him and leave him vulnerable to those seeking the Golden Millet Dream. Ji Bozai remained defiant.
Ming Yi intervened, suggesting a compromise, emphasizing that Princess Tianji needed Ji Bozai and that mutual benefit was a stronger foundation for an alliance than marriage. Ji Bozai reaffirmed his unwavering decision to proceed with the wedding. Princess Tianji conceded but imposed a condition: Ji Bozai must not form a heart imprint with Ming Yi or share his divine consciousness, to ensure there would be no interference with the upcoming Qingyun Tournament.
Ji Bozai readily agreed, much to Ming Yi's surprise. Princess Tianji then departed, but not before presenting them with a wedding gift. Meanwhile, Immortal Situ was seen purchasing numerous items. A vendor, assuming they were gifts, informed him about Ji Bozai's wedding to the fairy from Moonlit Blossoms in Luosheng Forest, causing Immortal Situ to leave abruptly. The wedding ceremony commenced with special flower paths, enchanting music, and words of blessing.
After the ceremony, Ji Bozai invited all guests to Moonlit Blossoms for a lavish banquet, promising to cover all expenses and arrange transportation. He subtly singled out Xun Ming, asking him to stay behind. Ming Yi grew concerned by Xun Ming's lack of reaction, wondering if his most cherished memory was not, in fact, his wedding to Xinliu. She was resolute that they must save Zhang Tai that very day.
Ji Bozai approached Xun Ming, extending an invitation for him to join them on a boat ride to the banquet. Xun Ming, however, revealed he had already discerned their entire plan. He explained that the wedding, with its deliberate replication of Yousu Fox Tribe rites, was a transparent attempt to lure him. He admitted he had intentionally allowed them to enter his illusion, his "fox hole," to search for Zhang Tai.
Xun Ming further revealed that he had deliberately misled them into believing his most treasured memory was his wedding with Xinliu, based on information he had gathered about Ji Bozai's research into methods of eliminating the Yousu Fox Tribe. He disclosed that the Yousu Fox Tribe's true expertise lay in trapping others within their own illusions.
He intended to exploit Ji Bozai's eagerness to enter his illusion, instead ensnaring Ji Bozai's spirit to extract the whereabouts of the Golden Millet Dream, and then kill him. With a sinister challenge, he invited them to enter his labyrinthine Illusory Realm. Ji Bozai entered the illusion, first searching for Zhang Tai, then Ming Yi, before encountering an illusory Bo Yulan. Ming Yi, also caught in the labyrinth, desperately called out for Ji Bozai.
Ji Bozai expressed profound relief that his master was alive and offered to heal her wounds. The illusion, however, shifted, questioning if he was avenging her, then demanding the location of the Golden Millet Dream and accusing him of causing her suffering. Realizing this was a deception, Ji Bozai struck the illusion with his sword. Xun Ming appeared in his true form, taunting Ji Bozai about the difficulty of distinguishing reality from illusion.
He asserted Ji Bozai could not escape and reiterated his demand for the Golden Millet Dream. Overwhelmed by constantly shifting illusions and voices chanting "fake," Ji Bozai began to lose himself. Ming Yi, breaking through a barrier, found Ji Bozai in a state of distress, repeating the demand for the Golden Millet Dream and turning his sword towards her.
Remembering Zhang Tai's words about Xun Ming's frequent declaration of love, "Whether you have true feelings for me or not, you're the only one I love," Ming Yi urgently whispered these words to Ji Bozai and then kissed him. Ji Bozai instantly regained his clarity, and together, they located Xun Ming's true and most cherished memory. Xun Ming manifested, allowing them to experience his past with Mu Xinliu.
Their story began with a poignant first encounter, where Xun Ming noticed the profound sorrow in Xinliu's qin playing and offered her comfort, assuring her that broken strings could be mended and bluebirds would fly freely again. Xinliu, affectionately calling him General, declared her unwavering love: "Whether you have true feelings for me or not, you're the only one I love." Later, Xun Ming returned with peculiar wounds.
He confessed he married her to grant her the freedom she desired, having agreed to raise netherbeasts for Mu Qibai in exchange for her release from the Mu clan. Xinliu secretly bled herself to create a medicinal cure for his miasma-induced injuries. Xun Ming discovered her self-sacrifice and was heartbroken. He pleaded with her to stop harming herself, urging her to drink the medicine, and confessed his inability to live without her. Suddenly, the netherbeasts he was taming became uncontrollable.
Xun Ming implored Xinliu to flee, but she refused, ultimately sacrificing herself to protect him from the rampaging beasts. Xun Ming was left in profound grief, consumed by guilt. Upon exiting the memories, Ming Yi and Ji Bozai acknowledged the deep sorrow and lack of genuine happiness that permeated Mu Xinliu's life. Xun Ming reappeared and fiercely attacked Ji Bozai, whose spiritual power was severely diminished within the illusion. Ji Bozai quickly found himself losing ground.
Ming Yi rushed to his side and confronted Xun Ming, demanding to know why he had confined Xinliu in Dengxian Cave if his true intention was her freedom. She questioned Xinliu's profound unhappiness and self-inflicted wounds, implying Xun Ming was hiding a darker truth. Xun Ming angrily dismissed her accusations, explaining that Xinliu had been deeply traumatized by Mu Qibai's exploitation and no longer wished to engage in social interactions.
He asserted that he married her and agreed to cultivate netherbeasts precisely to secure her freedom, willing to do anything for her sake. Ming Yi retorted that if he truly desired her freedom, he should have released her, not imprisoned her in his Dengxian Cave. She argued that Xinliu's life with him had been another form of torment, and his perception of their "perfect love" was nothing more than a self-deceptive illusion. Enraged, Xun Ming vehemently denied their doubts about Xinliu's love for him, and in a desperate act, possessed Ji Bozai, taking complete control of his consciousness and actions.
