My Dear Brothers Episode 32 Recap
> My Dear Brothers Recap
Bi Hong, after seizing the Holy Root, noticed that the Evil Aura around it had not diminished, leading him to realize that Hou Chi had not consumed the Love-forgetting Potion. Shortly after, Shi Xia and others arrived. Seeing Hou Chi unconscious with white hair, Shi Xia urgently inquired about what happened. Qing Feng explained that Hou Chi's Holy Root had been forcefully removed.
When Shi Xia saw the Holy Root in Bi Hong's hand, she knew he was responsible and angrily confronted him, asking why he and Qiu Li had harmed Hou Chi. Bi Hong quickly defended himself, explaining that he believed Hou Chi had killed Shi Xia and that his actions were solely to avenge her.
Shi Xia clarified that Hou Chi had only pretended to kill her and Shi Dong to protect them, and pleaded with Bi Hong to return the Holy Root, as Hou Chi would die without it. Bi Hong, however, expressed his deep hurt and frustration, recounting his long-standing affection for Shi Xia and how she consistently prioritized Hou Chi, never considering his feelings.
Despite Shi Xia's apologies and desperate pleas, Bi Hong vehemently refused, stating the Holy Root was originally his and he wouldn't return it. He then revealed that Yuan Zhao had transplanted his Holy Root into Hou Chi, declaring it had merely been "restored" to its rightful owner.
Bi Hong, now with the Holy Root, urged Shi Xia to return to the Devil Sect with him, promising to provide her with everything Hou Chi could and more, but Shi Xia firmly pulled away from his grasp, causing Bi Hong to fall into despair. Meanwhile, Shi Dong attempted to reason with Qiu Li, hoping she would cease her actions. He tried to summon Bai Li, but Qiu Li, still pretending to be Bai Li, mocked him.
Shi Dong, realizing her deception, accused her of lying to him all along. Qiu Li then openly admitted she had consumed Bai Li, justifying her actions by comparing Bai Li's perceived weaknesses to her own proactive support for Shi Dong, expressing her resentment that Shi Dong's affection remained solely with Bai Li. Shi Dong, regretting his neglect of her feelings, offered to comply with all her wishes if she would just stop and return the Holy Root to Hou Chi.
Qiu Li, however, dismissed his sentiments, declaring she would not return the Holy Root and that Shi Dong would not leave either. Shi Dong, exasperated, warned her not to call him "brother" again if she wouldn't back down. This enraged Qiu Li, who then ordered her subordinate, Qi Lingling, to escort Shi Dong and Shi Xia back to the Devil Sect, authorizing deadly force against anyone who resisted.
At the same time, Yuan Zhao discovered the Thunder Kill Array, realizing that he was not the only hostage and that the entire Immortal-Devil Town was under the Devil Sect's control. Despite his injuries, he forcefully broke free from his restraints. He intervened just as Qi Lingling was about to strike a Luosha bell that would have triggered the array and caused widespread death.
Yuan Zhao swiftly killed Qi Lingling and rushed to protect Shi Xia and Hou Chi, leading them and others to safety. Qiu Li, mourning Qi Lingling, attempted to heal her, but it was too late. Yuan Zhao, despite his own injuries, exerted himself to mend Hou Chi's wounds, ensuring he was out of immediate danger.
However, Shi Xia noticed that Hou Chi's condition was far more severe than others who had lost their Holy Roots, who typically only lost their cultivation. She pressed Yuan Zhao for an explanation, but he, intent on concealing his plans, tried to leave.
Unsettled, Shi Xia pursued him, demanding answers to her many questions: why he transplanted Bi Hong's Holy Root to Hou Chi, why he tried to silence her and Shi Dong after they warned him of Hou Chi's danger in the Celestial Palace, and what secret lay within the palace that made Hou Chi's loss of the Holy Root so unique.
Shi Dong, having rejoined them, had his people surround Yuan Zhao, reinforcing Shi Xia's demands and stating that Yuan Zhao's secrets had caused too much suffering. Surrounded and unable to evade further, Yuan Zhao reluctantly revealed the truth about Hou Chi's origins. Hou Chi, Yuan Zhao explained, was not human but the root of the Holy Tree in the Yuhua Sect.
Two thousand years ago, during a great calamity in the Immortal world, five powerful cultivators were chosen to sacrifice themselves to mend a tear in the heavens by forming the Immortal-Devil Great Array. However, one cultivator deserted at the last moment, leading to an incomplete sacrifice that, while averting immediate disaster, left a hidden flaw. This flaw caused turmoil in the cultivation world every two hundred years. The deserter eventually established the Devil Sect, hiding in the mortal realm.
In response, Shen Guan founded the Immortals Alliance, making the position of Alliance Head seem like a great honor. Yet, unknown to all, every elected Alliance Head was secretly sacrificed to power the array for a century. Two hundred years prior, Yuan Zhao discovered that his son, Bi Hong, possessed the heaven-chosen Holy Root, comparable to the original Devil Lord's.
He also learned through accidental discovery that the Devil Sect's ancestors had a rule forbidding their descendants from participating in the Immortals Alliance selection to avoid being sacrificed. Fearing Bi Hong would be noticed by Shen Guan and sacrificed, Yuan Zhao transformed the Holy Tree's root into Hou Chi, implanting Bi Hong's Holy Root into him. His intention was for Hou Chi to serve as a substitute sacrifice, thereby permanently repairing the Immortal-Devil Great Array and preventing future calamities.
He expressed his sorrow that his plan had failed at the last moment. Shi Xia was appalled by Yuan Zhao's ruthless actions, accusing him of sacrificing countless lives to protect his son. Yuan Zhao argued his actions were for the greater good of repairing the array and saving all living beings.
Shi Xia retorted that all things, even plants, possessed sentience, and that Hou Chi, whom Yuan Zhao considered a heartless tool, had developed his own consciousness and emotions, experiencing pain and sorrow. She condemned Yuan Zhao for treating Hou Chi as a puppet and for robbing him of his freedom and true life. She also pointed out that Yuan Zhao was not entirely heartless, as he had saved Hou Chi at the last moment.
During this heated exchange, Hou Chi, who had regained consciousness, overheard everything. Realizing his existence was solely for sacrifice, he asked everyone to leave him alone and closed the door to his room. Sitting in solitude, Hou Chi reflected on his life and, believing he had become a helpless wreck after losing his powers, decided to leave to avoid being a burden to Shi Xia. Hou Chi sought out Yuan Zhao, expressing that he harbored no resentment towards his master.
He acknowledged that if Yuan Zhao hadn't given him life, he would never have met Shi Xia. Yuan Zhao, in turn, admitted his mistakes, recognizing that no one should be sacrificed for another, and clarified that it was Shi Xia, not himself, who truly gave Hou Chi a meaningful life. Now that Hou Chi had lost his Holy Root and the Evil Aura was gone, Yuan Zhao told him it was time for him to choose his own destiny.
Hou Chi then requested that Yuan Zhao petition Lord Shen Guan for the enchantment of breaking the virtual space to send Shi Xia back to her home. He revealed that Shi Xia was not from their world.
Yuan Zhao, surprised by this revelation but understanding Shi Xia's unique traits, recalled his past agreement to use the enchantment to send her home if she helped him become the Alliance Head, and how he later fell in love with her and became reluctant to let her go. He questioned why, if they loved each other, Hou Chi would not want to stay with Shi Xia.
Hou Chi explained that having lost all his holy power and now being a "useless person," he did not wish to burden Shi Xia, who was young and had a promising future. Respecting Hou Chi's decision, Yuan Zhao agreed to his request. Later, Shi Xia went to Hou Chi's room with food, only to find him missing. She informed the others, and Shi Dong speculated that Hou Chi, being at his most vulnerable, had likely run away from home.
Qing Feng reassured them that Hou Chi, without his powers, couldn't have gone far and suggested they search separately without calling his name to avoid embarrassing him. Shi Xia rushed to the market and spotted Hou Chi. She called out to him, but he continued to walk, seemingly ignoring her.
Undeterred, Shi Xia continued to call his name, reminding him of their shared past and her deep feelings for him – calling him an "idiot" who couldn't cook, a "silly fool" who liked her but only treated her as a sister, and a "stupid fool" who pretended to drink the Love-forgetting Potion and suffered alone to protect her. She confronted him for hardening his heart to leave her when he knew she couldn't live without him.
Finally, unable to resist her heartfelt cries, Hou Chi stopped. Shi Xia ran to him and embraced him, declaring that from now on, she would protect him, reminding him of her expertise as a plant expert. Then, kneeling before him, Shi Xia tearfully asked Hou Chi if he would still marry her and put the ring back on her finger. Hou Chi took her hand, placed the ring on her finger, and they held each other close.
Shi Dong, watching the scene unfold, expressed his concern about them getting married so quickly, especially given Shi Xia's age, but Qing Feng reminded him that it was Shi Xia's choice.
