Moonshine and Valentine Episode 7 Recap
> Moonshine and Valentine Recap
A century ago, a female Fox Clan member, Qian Hua, was being hunted and sought refuge deep in the mountains. She was covered in realgar, which would allow her pursuers' dogs to track her scent. Just as she was about to be found, Helan appeared, instructing her to remove her realgar-covered coat. He then led the pursuers away, promising to return.
After rescuing her, Helan revealed that he was born blind and his mother was human, though he never met her. He explained that a human once sacrificed herself to save him, leading him to believe that humans and foxes should not be judged as inherently good or evil. He advised not to rush to hate others out of fear of getting hurt, but to give oneself a chance.
Inspired by his words and his past, Qian Hua became deeply devoted to him, even though she knew his heart belonged to Huiyan. She committed herself to finding Princess Xiyan's Gold Flower Mirror, believing it would unlock secrets about Lord Qingmu and Huiyan's past. Qian Hua later sought a breakthrough for Helan by investigating an ancient, brutal Fox Clan ritual involving the sacrifice of human livers.
This ritual was previously used by Lord Qingmu to treat Helan's eyes, but it left many unresolved issues and mysteries. To decipher the ancient texts describing this ritual, Qian Hua needed the assistance of the surviving elders of the Fox Clan in the north. This compelled her to approach Zhao Song, the Left High Priest and ruler of the northern territory, to request the Order Letter of the Northern Fox Clan.
Zhao Song, however, was not easily swayed; he demanded Qian Hua herself in return for his help. Qian Hua, though in a difficult position, explained her purpose: Helan wanted her to meet the Chief Priest Lord Qingmu. She emphasized the long-standing estrangement between the North and South Fox Clans, making the Order Letter essential to avoid trouble. Zhao Song, familiar with Helan's stubbornness, was skeptical, questioning why Helan would send Qian Hua to his father after centuries of no contact.
Qian Hua then confessed the true reason, detailing the ancient ritual and its connection to Helan's past, and her need for the elders' interpretation. Zhao Song, unfazed, pressed her about his reward, implying his desire for her. He scornfully remarked on her willingness to help a "love enemy," stating that he lacked such "cultivation." Meanwhile, at a nightclub, Tian Xin observed Xiaoju's visible distress after seeing Chen Nan, a boy Xiaoju liked, with his girlfriend.
Tian Xin urged Pipi to join them dancing, but Pipi, feeling uneasy, insisted on waiting for Jialin. Xiaoju confirmed she was there for Chen Nan's girlfriend's birthday, despite Tian Xin's warning not to get further entangled with him. Xiu Xian approached Xiaoju, admonishing her for her naive devotion to Chen Nan, calling him manipulative. Xiaoju retorted that at least she had value if she could be used.
Independently, Kuanyong struck up a conversation with a woman at the bar who claimed to be single and exchanged WeChat information with him. Later, Xiaoju, despite Xiu Xian's protests, approached Chen Nan's girlfriend to apologize, only to be verbally abused and humiliated by her, who accused Xiaoju of meddling and being shameless. Xiu Xian stepped in, asserting he was Xiaoju's boyfriend.
Kuanyong then clarified the situation, stating that both he and Xiu Xian were simultaneously pursuing Xiaoju, who hadn't yet chosen between them. Kuanyong confronted Chen Nan and his girlfriend, praising Xiaoju's kindness but condemning their exploitation of her goodwill. He boldly declared that Xiaoju deserved anyone, while Chen Nan did not deserve her. Before leaving, Kuanyong subtly exposed the girlfriend's earlier deceit by mentioning her WeChat ID, implying she had given it to him while claiming to be single.
Pipi, still at the nightclub, felt increasingly scared and alone. Tian Xin and Xiu Xian, observing her strange behavior, worried she seemed "bewitched" after she had been seen interacting unusually with a stranger earlier. They decided not to disclose their concerns to her immediately. Just then, Helan, drawn by the faint scent of the Pearl of Charm he had given Pipi, found her. Pipi, startled, screamed, which drew Jialin, who had just arrived.
Jialin rushed to her side, asserting his identity as her boyfriend and warning Helan to stay away. Xiu Xian and Kuanyong, recognizing Helan, urged him to leave due to the public setting and Pipi's visible fear. Though Helan was angered to see Pipi seek solace in Jialin's embrace, his rage causing a nearby light fixture to burst and further terrify Pipi, he reluctantly agreed to depart.
As Jialin escorted a fearful Pipi home, she expressed her intention to resign from the newspaper to focus on learning English. She had secretly discovered online that foxes feared realgar. The next day, she went to a pharmacy, purchasing realgar under the pretense of using it for a foot soak, aiming to have it for self-defense without harming anyone. She then approached Xiu Xian and Kuanyong, who were at their regular coffee shop.
They detected the scent of realgar from her bag and confronted her, reminding her that Helan had meant no harm by revealing his identity. Pipi explained her actions were out of fear due to recent strange encounters and assured them she wouldn't harm Helan. She then asked them to arrange a meeting with him, suggesting a lunch at the nearby Muyu Villa restaurant.
Upon learning of Pipi's request and her possession of realgar, Kuanyong expressed concern about Helan meeting her, citing Pipi's emotional instability and deep misunderstandings. However, Helan, reflecting on his centuries-long pursuit of Pipi (his reincarnated beloved), acknowledged his past mistakes of taking their bond for granted and not investing enough in their relationship. He realized he needed to put more effort into this life, regardless of the outcome, to have no regrets. Determined, he decided to accept Pipi's invitation.
At the Muyu Villa restaurant, Helan greeted Pipi, acknowledging the "planted incense" that allowed him to locate her, a concept Pipi didn't seem to understand. Helan, who typically didn't eat human food, ordered a lavish meal for Pipi, including roasted pigeon with caviar, lamb chops, shrimp with vegetables and aloe vera, and grilled salmon. Pipi then asked him to prepare the realgar she brought by crushing it and mixing it with ice water and honey.
Helan, to demonstrate his vulnerability, dipped his finger into the realgar mixture, which immediately burned and broke his skin, causing it to bleed. Pipi, startled, asked him why he had planted incense on her and what the Pearl of Charm meant, as she couldn't remove it. Helan explained that the incense was a sign of respect and the Pearl of Charm a gift symbolizing his affection, hoping she would reciprocate.
Pipi firmly rejected the Pearl, reiterating that she had a boyfriend and wanted him to take it back and stop bothering her. Helan, saddened, asked if he truly made her so afraid. He then effortlessly removed the Pearl of Charm from her neck, the very same bead she had previously been unable to cut or burn off. Pipi watched, her heart filling with a profound sense of loss, as the invisible connection she felt to Helan seemed to sever.
