My Dear Brothers Episode 17 Recap
> My Dear Brothers Recap
Lord Shen Guan declared that Hou Chi, Bi Hong, and Devil Lord Shi Dong would directly advance to the next round of the Alliance selection. This decision immediately sparked protests from other sects, who cried, "It's not fair!" (00:01:58) and accused Lord Shen Guan of openly "cheating for Devil Sect." (00:02:04) Lord Shen Guan defiantly responded, "I like it. Even though I play favorites to the Devil Sect. If you don't want to join, just quit."
(00:02:12) She then instructed Devil Lord Shi Dong to immediately take all the examinees to the Devil Sect for the next test. Qiu Li expressed concern to Shi Dong, fearing that the Devil Sect's entrance would be revealed to outsiders. Shi Dong reassured her, stating that he would protect both her and the Devil Sect, and asked her to trust him as "the leading man."
Qiu Li confirmed her trust, saying she was not afraid as long as he was there. Shi Dong then gathered the candidates, instructing them to board the Holy Power Ship and adhere to his directions throughout the journey. Yuan Zhao’s junior, Yuan Gui, urged him to kill Shi Xia, fearing she would continue to influence Hou Chi. Yuan Gui argued that Hou Chi was naive and would be tempted again, especially after Shi Xia risked herself to secure his qualification.
However, Yuan Zhao refused, explaining he had "promised to give Shi Xia a chance" (00:04:46) and that "it's not the right way to break faith." (00:04:57) He believed killing Shi Xia was futile, and to truly sever Hou Chi's emotional ties, they needed to work on Hou Chi himself. To achieve this, Yuan Zhao feigned illness.
Yuan Gui then pressured Hou Chi, telling him he had made his master sick and ordering him to swear he would never speak to Shi Xia again. Out of concern for his master, Hou Chi reluctantly agreed, much to Yuan Zhao's approval, who called him his "good disciple." After Hou Chi left, Bi Hong visited Yuan Zhao, claiming he heard Yuan Zhao was sick.
Bi Hong quickly saw through the deception, scoffing that the sect leader was "pretending to be sick." (00:07:47) Yuan Zhao then asked Bi Hong to help Hou Chi during the exams at the Devil Sect, but Bi Hong questioned this, pointing out that Hou Chi was so excellent he wouldn't need his assistance. On the Holy Power Ship, Shi Dong offered Shi Xia some milk tea.
Shi Xia, noticing his bandaged hand, tore off the gauze to find his fingers fully healed without any sign of injury. Realizing he had lied about being kidnapped and injured, she angrily confronted him, accusing him of making her worry like an "idiot" and treating the Yuhua Sect as enemies. Shi Dong downplayed it as a "trifle" and a mere "martyr" act, asserting that Shi Xia was his "only sister."
Shi Xia, however, found "cutting ties" to be a good idea. This exchange was overheard by Qiu Li, who, upon hearing Shi Dong call Shi Xia his "only real sister," became distressed. Her darker personality, referred to as Immortal Aunt, took over, vowing, "I'm not gonna let Shi Xia take away my brother." (00:11:44) She was informed that her "Bai Li" persona had already agreed to hold the second test at the Devil Sect.
Unfazed, Qiu Li menacingly declared, "It's fine. Come together then, and stay here forever." (00:11:57) Shi Dong led the candidates to the Devil Sect, where they were greeted with a boisterous welcome. A Devil Sect member enthusiastically introduced them to the sect’s famous "milk tea shop of Devil Sect," (00:13:02) boasting of its immense popularity. Yi Yao was drawn in by the aroma and ordered all their milk teas.
The Devil Sect also showcased their "Holy Power Ship," explaining their principle of "Immortal coin in exchange for Holy Power. Holy Power in exchange for immortal coins." (00:13:55) Bi Hong observed with amazement how Holy Power could be extracted and stored, realizing that if utilized effectively, "the people without ""spiritual roots"" also can practice." (00:14:26) Later, Yi Yao attempted to offer Hou Chi various milk teas, but Hou Chi declined, stating he did not like sweets.
Yi Yao then offered them to Qing Feng, who vehemently refused, declaring his hatred for the Devil Sect. Later, Shi Xia encountered Hou Chi and tried to give him a candy figurine as a gift. Hou Chi, however, coldly told her not to be nice to him anymore, stating, "I don't like sweets. Take it back, please." (00:15:47) Heartbroken, Shi Xia retreated to her room. Shi Dong found her crying while attempting to eat a candy figurine.
When he asked if it was sweet, Shi Xia realized she couldn't taste anything. She recalled that those who enter the Dark Forest lose something important, and concluded she had lost her sense of taste. Shi Dong tried to console her as she wept, blaming him for her predicament and expressing a desire to go home. Worried that Bi Hong might also have lost something after entering the Dark Forest, Shi Xia sought him out.
Bi Hong, whose eyesight had significantly worsened, falsely assured her, "No, I haven't. See? I'm all right here." (00:18:52) Relieved, Shi Xia quickly departed. Bi Hong then deduced from her hurried departure that she must have indeed lost something herself. Meanwhile, Yuan Zhao reiterated his earlier warning to Hou Chi, reminding him, "Now, we're in Devil Sect territory. You need to remember to keep your distance from Devil Sect, and socialize with Immortal Sect." (00:19:29) Hou Chi acknowledged this.
Later, Lord Shen Guan announced the second test: "The mission of this alliance election will be a search for the ""Silver Holy Garment""." (00:20:09) The first to find it would pass. Many candidates immediately cried foul, arguing that searching for the Devil Sect's sacred object on Devil Sect territory was biased, suggesting they "might as well just say Devil Lord is the head of the Alliance."
(00:20:20) Lord Shen Guan provocatively asked, "Why don't you just say I'm partial to Devil Sect?" (00:20:35) Qiu Li then explained that the ""Silver Holy Garment"" was the ceremonial robe of Qiu Boyan, the father of the Devil Sect, and had been missing since his passing. Therefore, she stated, "We Devil Sect don't know anything about the ""Silver Holy Garment"" more than you do," (00:21:04) assuring them there was no unfair advantage.
Qiu Li, now in her more sinister persona, reflected on a book of secrets left by her mother, which revealed the "true use" of ""spiritual roots"", a power she previously dismissed as a mere "toy." Her plan was to collect the ""spiritual roots"" from the Immortal Sect candidates and cultivate the "best ""spiritual roots""" to help Shi Dong ascend to the position of head of the Alliance.
She asserted that despite Shi Xia being Shi Dong's real sister, it was Qiu Li alone who could secure the Alliance leadership and the ultimate ""spiritual roots"" for him. Shi Dong announced that accommodations were arranged at the "famous Seven-Star Inn of Devil Sect," (00:21:26) jokingly adding that the "room rate is 20% off, excluding breakfast." (00:21:31) A Devil Sect member further boasted about the Inn's luxurious amenities, implying that the ascetic Immortal Sect couldn't match such high standards.
An Immortal Sect member countered that they "do not care about such external pleasures," (00:24:17) dismissing it as "the wrong way." (00:24:20) The Devil Sect member then retorted that if they didn't appreciate the hospitality, they could "sleep rough in the back hills." (00:24:36) Shi Xia found that her room was conveniently located next to Hou Chi’s.
She overheard several female cultivators visiting Hou Chi, ostensibly to discuss cultivation or the search for the ""Silver Holy Garment"", but clearly attempting to win his favor. Jealous, Shi Xia deliberately created loud noises by banging dishes from her room, effectively disrupting their conversations. She dismissed their clumsy attempts at flirting, pointing out their ignorance of Hou Chi's ascetic lifestyle.
One woman even brazenly asked Hou Chi if she could "be by your side as Miss Shi Xia used to be." (00:28:34) As the women left, they discovered a doll outside Shi Xia's door—a gift Hou Chi had once given her, which Shi Xia had angrily thrown out. One of the women picked it up, remarking, "What you don't like is something many people want. I took it. Don't regret it."
(00:30:26) Alone, Shi Xia tearfully lashed out, calling both Hou Chi and Shi Dong "liars." She then confronted a mysterious voice, demanding her sense of taste back. The voice explained that the Dark Forest takes what is "most important to you," and since she found "too much pleasure in food," her taste was the chosen sacrifice. Distraught, Shi Xia cried, wondering how she would cope with unhappiness now that "eating now" could no longer "solve the problem." (00:32:16) ""Later that night, the two women who had visited Hou Chi's room screamed and lost their lives, prompting everyone to rush to the scene." "
