The World of Fantasy Episode 5 Recap
> The World of Fantasy Recap
After Xingyun Pavilion was struck by a massive disaster, its Old Master, the entire Ye family including Ye Yang Qiu, and two families allied with the Ye family, were all annihilated overnight by a mysterious figure. Following this tragic event, others at Xingyun Pavilion urged Qin Lie, in his capacity as a Profound Heaven Emissary, to report the incident to the Profound Heaven Alliance and request the Saintess's intervention.
However, Ling Yushi, worried about the safety of Ling Borough, wanted to return there immediately. Qin Lie and Gao Yu agreed to accompany her back to Ling Borough, unwilling to deliver the message to the Profound Heaven Alliance. Upon their return, Ling Yushi spoke with her father, Ling Cheng Ye, who confirmed he was already aware of the massacre. The Ling family elders were perplexed by the mysterious killer's identity and motives.
Ling Cheng Ye, however, felt a sense of vengeful satisfaction, believing Xingyun Pavilion deserved its fate for pressuring Ling Xuanxuan into marriage, which led to her disappearance. He vowed to hold Du Shaoyang and Xingyun Pavilion accountable if any harm befell Ling Xuanxuan. Qin Lie and Gao Yu were then tasked with alerting the entire borough to be on high alert and continue the search for Ling Xuanxuan.
Meanwhile, a distraught Hua Yuxin was found weeping, as several search parties had failed to find Ling Xuanxuan for days. He was desperate to join the search but was prevented from doing so by Xiao Ying, who was following Master Hua's orders. Hua Yuxin insisted on waiting alone at the South Gate, believing Ling Xuanxuan would be happy to see him waiting if she returned.
Far from Ling Borough, at the foot of Qisha Valley, Ling Xuanxuan, dressed in attire meant for the snowy wilderness, arrived in a small town. The townspeople stared and whispered about her unusual appearance and vacant expression. To avoid drawing more attention, she entered a tailor shop to buy new clothes. With only two spirit stone coins, she could only afford a simple, plain garment. As she left the shop, a thief snatched her bag.
She gave chase, rushing through the streets, and collided with a tall figure. Later that day, Qin Lie confessed to Gao Yu that he felt like someone was following them in Ling Borough, but he dismissed it as his own anxieties. He suggested they find Hua Yuxin, who was still waiting at the South Gate, and take him for a drink to get his mind off things.
Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure, the Soul Reaping Beast in human form, watched Qin Lie's departure from behind a large tree. That night, Qin Lie, Gao Yu, and Hua Yuxin gathered to drink, reminiscing about their childhood. Hua Yuxin, still distraught, was urged by Gao Yu to cherish their time together.
Hua Yuxin then emotionally thanked them for their friendship, recalling a time when he, a timid outlander, bravely defended Ling Yushi from bullies, an event that cemented their bond. Gao Yu also remembered his own deep affection for Ling Yushi, and how she had rushed to Qin Lie when he was injured.
Growing agitated, Gao Yu abruptly knocked Hua Yuxin unconscious and confronted Qin Lie about Ling Yushi, claiming that Hua Yuxin had told him about Ling Yushi's confession of feelings to Qin Lie. Qin Lie, denying any confession, evaded the topic by feigning drunkenness and asked Gao Yu to take Hua Yuxin home. Gao Yu, furious at Qin Lie's dismissal, hurled his bowl, accusing Qin Lie of having his conscience sealed by the Soul Suppressing Orb.
The next morning, Gao Yu found Qin Lie returning from his patrol, revealing that the "Hua Yuxin" they drank with last night was actually the Soul Reaping Beast. He recounted how he had discovered this deception while sending the fake Hua Yuxin home.
They rushed to find the real Hua Yuxin, who, though unharmed, was disoriented and could only vaguely recall meeting a woman in a purple cloak from the snowfield who claimed to have seen Ling Xuanxuan before he lost consciousness. Qin Lie and Gao Yu, now certain the Soul Reaping Beast was active in Ling Borough, grew wary, realizing anyone could be an imposter.
Gao Yu correctly deduced that the Soul Reaping Beast must have followed them from Xingyun Pavilion after its massacre. Fearing widespread panic if the truth were revealed, Qin Lie suggested they quietly acquire a large number of Thunder Storage Jade Plates. He planned to infuse them with his thunder energy and, when the Soul Reaping Beast finally revealed itself, unleash the jade plates to restrain or scare it away.
When Gao Yu questioned the financial aspect, Qin Lie admitted he had no money, prompting Gao Yu to leave to secure the plates. Later, Qin Lie encountered Ling Yushi acting strangely. She was overly affectionate, touching his hand and even hinting at offering herself to him. Overwhelmed, Qin Lie pushed her away.
The next day, when Qin Lie tried to speak with her, Ling Yushi publicly reprimanded him, accusing him of disdain despite her past acts of service and his rejection of her advances the previous night. Gao Yu quickly intervened, pulling Qin Lie away and suggesting that this Ling Yushi might be an illusion created by the Soul Reaping Beast. Qin Lie suddenly realized that this explained her erratic behavior.
At that moment, Song Tingyu appeared, confirming that the Soul Reaping Beast was indeed alive and had followed them to Ling Borough. She revealed that she had been covertly observing everyone and was certain that the current Ling Yushi was the transformed beast.
Song Tingyu explained that the vengeful Soul Reaping Beast, having been injured by Qin Lie in the God Trapping Cave, sought to torment him by taking the form of the woman he loved, intending to make him unknowingly destroy his beloved. Song Tingyu advocated for killing the impostor. Qin Lie fiercely objected, demanding irrefutable proof and expressing his concern for the real Ling Yushi's fate.
They ultimately agreed that Qin Lie must pretend to be deceived by the beast's illusion and confess his love to it, hoping it would then reveal its true form, which would also safeguard the real Ling Yushi if she was still alive. That night, Qin Lie went to Ling Yushi's room, steeling himself against the possibility that she might be the real one.
He embraced her, pouring out his heart, confessing his lifelong affection for her, explaining his fears about his uncertain future as a cultivator with powerful enemies, and his concern that he might leave Ling Borough or die, leaving her to wait indefinitely.
Despite these worries, he declared his willingness to abandon his dream of becoming the Supreme Lord for a simple life with her, or to dedicate all his achievements to her if she joined him on his path to supremacy. He then asked her to marry him. As Ling Yushi hugged him, Qin Lie looked into a mirror and saw the human form of the Soul Reaping Beast. Afterward, Qin Lie returned to Song Tingyu and Gao Yu, his face grim.
He confirmed that the Ling Yushi he had just spoken with was indeed the Soul Reaping Beast. Consumed by anger at the thought that the real Ling Yushi might have been consumed by the beast, both Qin Lie and Gao Yu yearned to slay it. However, Song Tingyu advised a different approach: Qin Lie was to formally propose marriage to the Ling family the next morning, setting a trap to force the Soul Reaping Beast to reveal its original form.
The following morning, despite agreeing to Song Tingyu's plan, Qin Lie secretly instructed Gao Yu to seek out the Master of Frost Buli. He harbored suspicions about Song Tingyu's complex nature, believing the benevolent Master of Frost, who had previously sent frostwolves to their aid, would be a more reliable ally if their plan went awry. Gao Yu, though worried about the dangers and the time it would take, agreed to hurry to the snowfield.
As he ventured deep into the snowy expanse, the illusory form of Ling Yushi materialized before him. She confessed her love for him, claiming that Qin Lie's proposal to her father had made her realize her true feelings were for Gao Yu. Though he recognized the illusion, Gao Yu was captivated by her appearance and, overcome with emotion, embraced her. As Gao Yu succumbed to the illusion, the Soul Reaping Beast observed him.
It reflected on how it had spared the Du family during the Xingyun Pavilion massacre, noting Gao Yu's outwardly genial but inwardly cunning nature. Recognizing his latent "evil side," the Soul Reaping Beast decided that Gao Yu was an individual the Dark Nether Race had long sought. It envisioned him becoming an instrument for the Dark Nether Race, utilizing the Du family for their own purposes. With this thought, it plunged Gao Yu into a deep, dreamless sleep.
