Thousand Years For You Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Thousand Years For You Synopsis
Three thousand years ago, Zhurong launched a war against the human race. The goddess Yunxi, moved by the pleas of the people, sealed away her own killing intent in hopes of bringing peace. However, unaware of this, Zhurong continued to lead the spirit race in plundering and raiding. The human prince, Lu Yan, led his troops in a fierce resistance and joined forces with Yunxi to end the war. But Zhurong set a trap that pushed them into a desperate situation. Before her death, Yunxi extracted her inner core and gave it to Lu Yan. With the power of the core, Lu Yan slew Zhurong, bringing an end to the human-spirit war and fulfilling Yunxi's final wish, restoring peace to the nine provinces.
Three thousand years later, Lu Yan meets Yu Dengdeng, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Yunxi, and their fates from past and present begin to intertwine.
Thousand Years For You Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Three thousand years ago, the Spirit Clan, led by Saintess Yun Xi and the chieftain Zhu Rong, waged war against the human race, plunging the world into misery. During the conflict, Yun Xi was moved by the suffering of all beings and sealed her killing intent, hoping to bring about peace. However, this act earned her the hatred of Zhu Rong, who continued to lead the Spirit Clan in widespread plunder.
Meanwhile, Lu Yan, the human prince, bravely led his troops in resistance. He allied with Yun Xi, striving to end the war. Zhu Rong, however, cornered them both in a desperate situation. Before her death, Yun Xi extracted her Energy Core and gave it to Lu Yan, enabling him to use its power to slay Zhu Rong, end the war between the human race and the spirit clan, and fulfill her dying wish.
Peace returned to the Nine Continents, but Lu Yan mysteriously disappeared from the world, leaving behind countless legends. Three thousand years later, on Qingquan Mountain, Yu Dengdeng, the Chief of Qingquan Stronghold, led some of her men to a cave in search of treasure. According to local lore, a corrupt official from a previous dynasty had hidden all his ill-gotten gains there. To their disappointment, most of the boxes were empty.
Yu Dengdeng confidently broke the lock on a large chest, only to find it, too, contained nothing but empty containers. As everyone expressed their frustration, Yu Dengdeng inadvertently triggered a mechanism and plummeted into a newly opened hole beneath the large chest. Yu Dengdeng slowly got up and lit a torch, discovering a hidden chamber with a massive mural.
She was captivated by the person depicted in the painting, remarking on how handsome they looked, and wondered why such a beautiful image would be in such a dirty place. As she reached out to touch the mural, a golden light flashed, and a series of unfamiliar yet familiar images flickered through her mind. The entire cave began to collapse around her, leaving Yu Dengdeng in a state of panic. Suddenly, everything froze.
The figure from the mural, Lu Yan, emerged and called out "Yun Xi." He presented a hairpin, seemingly intending to return it to its rightful owner. However, the hairpin merely hovered around Yu Dengdeng without acknowledging her as its master. Lu Yan frowned, quickly retrieved the hairpin, and walked out of the cave.
The dazzling sunlight outside seemed to tell him that the world had changed beyond recognition, and he wondered if Yun Xi had transmigrated and returned to the world in a new form. Moments later, a car with failed brakes sped towards Lu Yan in the street. He remained unharmed from the collision, which left the car's front end damaged, and he effortlessly ascended to a rooftop.
Later, Lu Yan arrived at a residence where he found his old acquaintances, Chang and Xin. They knelt before him, overjoyed and deeply apologetic for having lost their master, Yun Xi. Lu Yan corrected them, stating that his only master was Yun Xi, and they agreed to call him "Sir."
Xin explained that 20 years prior, he had been injured by a spirit-hunter, and upon his return, Yun Xi's Spiritual feathers, which Lu Yan had placed on Qingquan Mountain to gather her spirit, were gone. He noted that the Spirit Clan was in decline, with most having fled to Yingdu, and only a few ordinary spirits remained in Qingquan Town.
Lu Yan took responsibility for the Spirit Clan's fate, but Xin quickly reassured him, emphasizing that if Lu Yan hadn't accepted the Energy Core and defeated Zhu Rong, the world would have been utterly devastated. Lu Yan summoned the local deity of Qingquan Mountain to inquire about the lost Spiritual feathers. The deity recalled that the feathers, which had been accumulating someone's spiritual sense, were indeed taken away about 20 years ago.
He described the person who took them as carrying a dagger with an emblem of the character 'Yu' (于), which he then drew for Lu Yan. Xin brought historical records of Qingquan Town, and as Lu Yan delved into them, he could sense the layered history of the place. His appearance transformed to match the current era's clothing and hairstyle, ensuring he wouldn't draw unwanted attention.
Lu Yan, however, began to experience intense pain, a consequence of carrying Yun Xi's Energy Core as a mortal. Xin explained that his energy was unstable, causing him agonizing pain and even temporary loss of consciousness. Lu Yan brushed off his suffering, reiterating that it was insignificant compared to Yun Xi's sacrifice.
He was determined to find her, regardless of what form she might have taken, even if she had reincarnated as a flower, a blade of grass, an animal, a breeze, or a snowflake. Meanwhile, Yu Dengdeng awoke from a vivid dream of a wedding, attributing it to the handsome man in the mural. Her Uncle Lv Er, who often dabbeled in divination, was burning mugwort to dispel bad luck around the stronghold.
He suggested Yu Dengdeng marry a man to change their fortunes. Yu Dengdeng vehemently refused, reminding him of a past incident from her childhood when, on her uncle's advice, she married a rooster to cure a heart ailment, a decision that led to years of ridicule from the chieftains of the 18 mountain strongholds.
However, a string of misfortunes soon struck the Qingquan Stronghold: their cart for groceries and grain overturned at Baizhan Bend, losing half a month's food supply, their only sow experienced a difficult labor, and Xiao'er's private school threatened expulsion over unpaid tuition fees. Faced with these mounting pressures, Yu Dengdeng reluctantly agreed to try Lv Er's suggestion. She descended the mountain, targeting the wealthiest family in town to "marry" their young master.
After coercing the young master’s father with undisclosed evidence related to the family’s raw opium business, Yu Dengdeng ensured the groom was placed in a sedan chair. She warned Mr. Lu to cease his illicit trade and indicated she would return for more "dowry" once the current supply was depleted. As Yu Dengdeng and her brothers traveled back up the mountain with the dowry, they noticed an unusual silence.
The young master, who had been crying earlier, was now completely quiet in the sedan. Despite the wedding attendant's protests, Yu Dengdeng insisted on opening the sedan. To her shock, the young master was gone, replaced by a paper figure. Furthermore, the dowry had mysteriously turned into stones.
Enraged, Yu Dengdeng interrogated the terrified wedding attendant, who finally confessed that the sedan was a magical one from Xin's Sedan Chair Company, capable of making people disappear and reappear elsewhere, sometimes even in other towns. Yu Dengdeng immediately led her men to Xin's Sedan Chair Company for answers. Finding the doors locked and impregnable, they began to shout, "Unethical Sedan Company, return my husband!" Their commotion coincided with a shootout between the police and a group of bandits.
The bandits seized a child as a hostage. Yu Dengdeng rushed to save the child, but an axe and a bullet flew directly towards her. Just as disaster seemed imminent, everything around them froze. Lu Yan appeared, effortlessly rescuing Yu Dengdeng and the child. As time resumed its normal flow, Chang, having arrived on the scene, mistook Yu Dengdeng for Yun Xi, but Lu Yan quickly corrected him. Yu Dengdeng, deeply impressed by Lu Yan's mysterious intervention, declared a change of plans: instead of pursuing compensation, she decided to "kidnap him for love."
Episode 2 Recap
The Qingquan Stronghold delegation arrived at Xin's Sedan Chair Company, intending to seek compensation for their previous losses. Yu Dengdeng, the Chief of Qingquan Stronghold, however, immediately took a liking to Lu Yan, the actual shopkeeper of the company. She boldly declared her intention for him to replace the previously lost young master and marry into Qingquan Stronghold.
Flirtatiously, she reached out to caress his face, but Lu Yan's stern gaze instantly repelled her, sending her stumbling out into the courtyard, spitting a trickle of blood. Yu Dengdeng, undeterred and claiming it was merely an inner fever, found Lu Yan's formidable presence intriguing and solidified her resolve to take him as her husband.
Her followers grumbled about the loss of valuable antiques from the company, noting that the wealth within was worth more than several Lu families combined, but Yu Dengdeng insisted that Lu Yan, himself, was what she wanted. Meanwhile, Lu Yan's servant noted Yu Dengdeng's resemblance to their former master, Yun Xi, but Lu Yan, having tested her with Yun Xi's hairpin, confirmed she was not. He refocused on his true mission: finding a specific emblem.
Later, as Lu Yan was in his room experiencing a familiar pain in his chest, Yu Dengdeng and her cohorts stealthily scaled the roof of Xin's Sedan Chair Company. While there, a mysterious black fog flew towards Yu Dengdeng, but it was unexpectedly repelled when she happened to spit out more blood. Proceeding with their plan, they snuck into Lu Yan's room.
Using a sleeping drug, Yu Dengdeng incapacitated Lu Yan, proclaiming, "No matter how good his cultivation is, he can be knocked down by sleeping smoke." Admiring his handsome face, she fantasized about him bearing her many children before instructing her men to carry him away. Lu Yan's servant returned to find him missing. When Lu Yan finally awoke, he found himself tied up in Yu Dengdeng's room at Qingquan Stronghold.
Despite being bound, he easily broke free, throwing Dahai, one of Yu Dengdeng's men, out of the room. Yu Dengdeng, initially furious at Dahai, immediately softened upon seeing Lu Yan. Her second-in-command, Lv Er, attempted to placate Lu Yan, calling him lucky to be marrying into their stronghold. Yu Dengdeng informed Lu Yan that he would now be known as Yu Lu, her "second husband," and warned him to behave.
She then produced a marriage paper, complete with his forged handprint and signature, threatening him with a broken leg if he refused to comply. When Lu Yan tried to leave, Yu Dengdeng drew a dagger, inadvertently cutting his hand after he was momentarily distracted by an emblem on it. She scolded him for resisting and pointed out that he was now bleeding.
Lu Yan, however, then agreed to stay, on the condition that he be allowed to move freely within the stronghold and not be touched. Yu Dengdeng agreed, dismissing her followers' concerns about his escape, confident in the stronghold's defenses. News of Yu Dengdeng's impending marriage reached Gu Beixi, the Chief of Nanfeng Stronghold. He was visibly agitated, despite his subordinate's attempts to downplay the situation.
Gu Beixi recounted how Yu Dengdeng had taken the sedan chair company's owner after the previous groom turned into a paper figure, and openly criticized her for her brazenness. He ordered his men to sabotage the wedding, indignant that he, the chief of Nanfeng Stronghold, had no wife, while Yu Dengdeng was about to take her second husband.
His subordinate, aware of Gu Beixi's unrequited feelings for Yu Dengdeng, gently reminded him that he had rejected many marriage proposals in the past, preferring women who were "careless, loose, and rough," a description that subtly fit Yu Dengdeng. Gu Beixi, frustrated by Yu Dengdeng's obliviousness to his affections, decided against direct intervention, fearing her anger if he ruined her wedding. His subordinate then offered an alternative plan.
Meanwhile, back at Qingquan Stronghold, Lv Er tried to persuade Yu Dengdeng to abandon her pursuit of Lu Yan, calling him "dangerous," but she adamantly insisted on him. She declared that all the items Lu Yan had broken would be double-counted into his dowry. She quickly set the wedding date for three days later, planning to invite all the chiefs from the eighteen surrounding strongholds to collect wedding gifts.
Her ultimate goal was to acquire Xin's Sedan Chair Company, as its wealth was worth more than several Lu families combined. Despite her confidence, she instructed Lv Er to keep a close watch on Lu Yan, sensing his quick agreement might hide an ulterior motive. She vowed to tame his "stubborn" spirit.
Daqian, another of Yu Dengdeng's men, gave Lu Yan a tour of Qingquan Stronghold, pointing out various areas like Gongbao Garden (Lu Yan's new residence), Yuxiang Garden (Yu Dengdeng's residence), and Delicious Hall (the meeting hall). He specifically warned Lu Yan to avoid the Hotpot Garden. Lu Yan, however, observed the intricate layout of the stronghold, noting its seemingly chaotic but cleverly designed structure, concluding that its planner was a master.
Daqian, misunderstanding Lu Yan's intentions, tried to incite him against Yu Dengdeng, offering his help to take control of the stronghold, as he believed a woman shouldn't hold such power. Suddenly, A Xin, the sedan chair company's young manager, arrived with their men, demanding Lu Yan's release and accusing Yu Dengdeng's people of kidnapping him. Yu Dengdeng, realizing Xin was there to pay the ransom she had demanded, defused the situation and invited them all to dinner.
At the meal, A Xin wondered why they weren't fighting their way out, but Lu Yan advised quiet observation, convinced the stronghold was the main culprit in the disappearance of his master, Yun Xi. Yu Dengdeng, with her rough charm, performed a quirky ritual dance called "Rooster and Dog Rise to Heaven," a tradition passed down from their "Senior Master."
During dinner, Yu Dengdeng piled meat onto Dahai's plate but herself happily ate glutinous rice cakes, explaining it was a local snack. This brought back a memory for Lu Yan of Yun Xi eating glutinous rice cakes for the first time. When Lu Yan reached for food, Dahai abruptly served him a bowl of plain porridge and salted vegetables.
Yu Dengdeng explained that due to his earlier destruction of property and injury to her apprentice, his monthly food budget was depleted, and any better food would require additional payment. She even offered him a menu of prices for different dishes and continued to playfully touch him, which infuriated Lu Yan. He responded by splitting the dinner table in half.
Lu Yan accused her of only being interested in his company's wealth, but Yu Dengdeng countered that she was interested in him, promising him a good life if he submitted. She then commanded him to smile and dance. As Lu Yan and A Xin attempted to leave, Yu Dengdeng reiterated her control, revealing she knew his true reason for staying: the emblem on her dagger.
She explained that she had noticed his momentary distraction when he saw it, realizing he had been "gathering information" about it. After Dahai read a long list of stronghold rules emphasizing obedience to the Chief, and villagers brought in their first harvest for the new couple, Yu Dengdeng's demands escalated. She introduced "Big Red," a rooster, as his "main husband," instructing Lu Yan to groom, feed, and clean its coop, though he could pay someone to do it.
Lu Yan, losing patience, threatened to roast the rooster, but Yu Dengdeng diffused the tension and invited him to her room to discuss the emblem. In her room, Yu Dengdeng showed Lu Yan the dagger, explaining the "Yu" emblem was her family's ancestral crest, hand-made by their forefathers. Lu Yan inquired about her life twenty years prior, asking if she had always lived in Qingquan Stronghold.
She replied that she remembered traveling with her father until he built the stronghold, after which they settled there, confirming her father was its founder. Lu Yan then asked about the "spirit clan." Yu Dengdeng recounted a "legend" of the spirit clan descending from the heavens to fight humanity, leading to the rise of "spirit-hunters" who defeated them, forcing them into hiding in the mountains.
However, she quickly dismissed the entire story, laughing and declaring it was all her father's made-up tales to "scam people," insisting that neither spirit clans nor spirit-hunters existed. Despite her dismissiveness, Lu Yan became suspicious of her father, Yu Tanzi, and remained convinced of the stronghold's secrets. Later that night, Lu Yan ventured to the forbidden Hotpot Garden. Lv Er discovered him there but, instead of stopping him, invited him inside, claiming they were family.
In a secret chamber, Lv Er revealed a collection of ancient beast remains, including a phoenix feather, a Chongming bird's eyeball, and a hook snake's tail sting, referring to them as "ancient spirit clan remains." He off-handedly called them "junk" but mentioned the "Ying Dragon bone" as the most valuable item, offering it to Lu Yan. Lu Yan, however, sensed no trace of Yun Xi's elemental energy within the chamber and declined the offer. Lv Er then directly asked Lu Yan to reveal his true identity.
Episode 3 Recap
Lv Er confronted Lu Yan, demanding to know his true identity. Lu Yan, however, answered without a single flaw, stating he was the owner of Xin's Sedan Chair Company at No. 2, Qingliu Lane, and had just returned from his hometown of Chuan County, whose current magistrate was Li Fengyue.
He mentioned his parents had died young, and he had an elder brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister, choosing to settle there as he was unburdened by family ties. Lv Er then apologized for Yu Dengdeng's previous reckless actions, explaining that Dengdeng had grown up without a mother and could be a bit rough. Lu Yan assured him he harbored no ill will.
Lv Er became stern, emphasizing Dengdeng's simple and faithful nature, and warned Lu Yan that if he dared to harm her, he would never let him go. After Lu Yan departed, Lv Er was visibly shaken by his own interaction. He later expressed his deep concerns to Dengdeng, calling Lu Yan too complicated and dangerous for her to marry hastily. Dengdeng dismissed his fears, reminding him that he himself had initially urged her to marry Lu Yan.
She confidently stated her investigations confirmed Lu Yan was the sedan company owner, dismissing Lv Er's ignorance about the Lu family in Chuan County. Dengdeng then unabashedly declared her intentions to marry Lu Yan for his money, good looks, and physical appeal, considering him their "cash cow." Lv Er cautioned her against being swayed by beauty, citing historical examples of emperors who fell due to it.
Dengdeng playfully interpreted this as high expectations for her, promising to fulfill them, leaving Lv Er to wonder why she was so infatuated. Meanwhile, Daqian, feeling unfairly treated by Yu Dengdeng for being assigned night patrol, grumbled to himself while drinking under the moonlight, vowing to prove his worth. Xin, identifying himself as Lu Yan's attendant, approached Daqian, offering to help with his patrol.
Xin flattered Daqian and inquired about unusual stories, especially since he heard the old Chief was a spirit-hunter. Daqian, loosened by alcohol, revealed that when Yu Dengdeng was less than three years old, she had suffered a strange illness and seemed to die. Her grandfather, the old Chief, had desperately prayed for her, and the very next day, he discovered a mysterious, luminous bird with golden feathers by a large mountain lake.
It was said that the bird exuded spiritual energy and would soon be able to speak. The old Chief then stewed the bird and gave the broth to Dengdeng, who immediately recovered, becoming exceptionally strong and, as Daqian added, prone to bullying others. Xin commented on their actions, knowing the bird was extraordinary yet still consuming it. Overhearing this, Lu Yan was consumed by a powerful rage. A furious gale erupted, and dark clouds gathered, frightening Daqian away.
Xin quickly intervened, calming Lu Yan and explaining that if Yun Xi's spirit was still intact, it could be extracted to restore her. He reasoned that ordinary humans could not truly absorb or integrate a spirit, so their master's essence must remain. Lu Yan agreed, recognizing that if the spirit had not dispersed, there was still a chance to retrieve it. He decided to use his energy core to probe Dengdeng again, confident it would resonate with Yun Xi's spirit.
His immediate goal was to extract the spirit while Yu Dengdeng was still alive. Lu Yan instructed Xin to go down the mountain ahead of time to make preparations, as a forced extraction within the stronghold could cause too much unwanted commotion. He planned to lure Dengdeng out of the stronghold the next day. Later that night, with Dengdeng asleep, Xin confirmed the situation was favorable and stood guard outside while Lu Yan entered her room to probe her spirit.
Dengdeng, however, suddenly awoke and questioned his presence. She playfully accused him of having ulterior motives, such as attempting to "murder his wife" or something more intimate. Lu Yan tried to dismiss her, but Dengdeng, asserting her dominance, pinned him down on the bed and playfully attempted to kiss him, observing his daytime seriousness contrasted with his nocturnal intrusion.
Before she could, Xin appeared, proclaiming that it wasn't time to kill her and that Lu Yan belonged to his master, before swiftly stunning Dengdeng. As Dengdeng collapsed onto Lu Yan, he was finally able to clearly sense Yun Xi's spirit within her, confirming it was still intact. Xin expressed relief, realizing that with the spirit as their foundation, there was hope for their master's re-formation.
Although Xin suggested extracting the spirit immediately, Lu Yan explained that Yun Xi's spirit was fully integrated with Dengdeng's body, requiring a forceful extraction. He reaffirmed his plan to perform the extraction at dusk the following day in a secluded area, reiterating his previous instructions for Xin to prepare for the procedure down the mountain. The next morning, Yu Dengdeng awoke with a stiff neck, attributing it to a strange dream, though Dahai suggested it was from drawing Lu Yan.
Dahai mocked her drawing, but Dengdeng proudly corrected him, stating it was "Aunt Lu." Dahai questioned her affection for "Aunt Lu," prompting Dengdeng to boast that he had visited her room the previous night, sneaked onto her bed, and they had a passionate "fight," ending with her pinning him down. However, she then comically admitted she had fallen asleep before anything more could happen, much to Dahai's disappointment.
Shortly after, Lu Yan arrived, asking why wedding preparations hadn't begun for their ceremony in two days. Dengdeng, trying to save face despite being short on funds from distributing the sedan company's money, initially feigned a generous refusal of Lu Yan's offer of financial help. When Lu Yan subtly suggested her lack of action implied the wedding wasn't important, Dengdeng quickly changed her tune, declaring it was indeed worth it and immediately set off to buy new clothes and supplies.
During their shopping trip, Lu Yan bought numerous expensive decorative items. Dengdeng, concerned about the mounting costs, secretly instructed Dahai to curb Lu Yan's spending. When Lu Yan seemingly overheard, she quickly put on a show of lavish generosity, proclaiming that she would be responsible for "borrowing money to support the family" while he was "responsible for being beautiful," allowing him to buy whatever he pleased.
She then went to the photo studio to personally deliver a wedding invitation to Mr. Ya. There, Dengdeng respectfully greeted Mr. Ya, reminding him of her childhood visits with her father and requesting he continue to call her Dengdeng, not "Miss Yu." Mr. Ya congratulated her. Dengdeng confirmed her father hadn't returned but expected him to make it for the wedding. She then specifically asked Mr. Ya to attend with his camera to capture her wedding photos.
On their return journey, Yu Dengdeng complained about the bumpy ride in her sedan and asked to switch with Lu Yan, a move orchestrated by him. As they entered a bamboo forest, a thick fog descended, causing the rest of the convoy to go in circles and lose their way due to a spell Xin had arranged. Dengdeng, disoriented and alone in the fog, called out for Dahai.
Lu Yan appeared and proceeded with his attempt to extract Yun Xi's spirit. However, the spirit immediately dispersed upon extraction, shocking Lu Yan, who hastily gathered the scattered fragments and returned them to Dengdeng's body. Dengdeng awoke with a sharp pain in her heart but was unaware of the extraction attempt. She requested Lu Yan carry her, but he insisted she walk herself. Joking nervously about wild beasts, Dengdeng's words proved prophetic as menacing wild men suddenly surrounded them.
Lu Yan quickly warned her that her dagger was useless against these non-human attackers. Just as he prepared to fight, a gunshot rang out and the wild men collapsed. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi and his subordinate, hiding nearby, observed the scene. The subordinate noted the unexpected sedan switch but confirmed that the hired "mister" was right about the wild men's ferocity.
Though enraged at Dengdeng being put in harm's way, Gu Beixi was urged by his subordinate to retreat before their involvement was discovered. Believing the threat was neutralized, they departed. However, the wild men unexpectedly reanimated and renewed their attack. Dengdeng, without hesitation, shielded Lu Yan and was bitten, falling unconscious. Lu Yan swiftly subdued the wild men, realizing that other Spirit Clan members were involved in the attack.
Elsewhere, the remaining Qingquan Stronghold members were also attacked by the wild men, but Xin arrived in time to repel them. Back at the stronghold, despite her own bite wound, Dengdeng prioritized caring for Dahai, who had been injured. Realizing the spirit extraction had failed, Xin consulted ancient texts and discovered a "Spirit-hunter Manual" written by Yu Houdao, possibly an ancestor of Yu Dengdeng.
The manual explained that 500 years ago, a spirit-hunter had accidentally swallowed a Spirit Clan spirit, causing immense anger. The clan forcibly extracted it, but it scattered due to the thinning spiritual energy of the world. Spirit Clan spirits, being of "supreme Yin" energy, were fragile; removing them normally was akin to protecting a candle flame from a strong wind.
The only method for successful extraction was during a full moon night, utilizing a "spirit bone" and an ancient spirit-extraction formation drawn with the bone ashes of ancient Spirit Clan members. This meant that Yu Dengdeng's life had to be protected until the full moon, as the spirit would disperse if her body died. Xin worried about finding such ancient spirit clan bone ashes. Lu Yan then revealed that the ancestral temple of the Yu family housed Ying Dragon Bones.
Xin questioned if the ancestral temple's powerful barrier was created by these bones and whether Lu Yan could bypass it. Lu Yan confirmed the barrier was indeed powered by Ying Dragon Bone energy, too strong to force without alerting others, which he wished to avoid. Soon after, Yu Dengdeng entered Lu Yan's room without knocking, playfully stating there was no need to knock in her own home.
She offered to give him a massage after his battle with the wild men, but he declined. She then presented him with handmade glutinous rice cakes, claiming they were his favorite, recalling how he had "gulped them down" previously. Lu Yan denied this, but Dengdeng insisted, admitting she made them herself after Li's shop ran out. He reluctantly tasted them, offering a noncommittal "not bad." Dengdeng teasingly declared that from now on, "not bad" would count as "I like it."
She then boldly asked if he liked "her". Lu Yan deflected, asking if that was her only reason for visiting. Dengdeng clarified she wanted to thank him for saving her life, dismissing his attempts to credit the hunter. She emphasized their bond as a couple who had faced life and death together, admitting she was captivated by his bravery. Lu Yan, in turn, thanked her for protecting him first. Dengdeng pledged her unwavering support.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Yan inquired about the secrets and formidable barrier of the Yu family ancestral temple. Dengdeng claimed there were no secrets and that she had found nothing unusual during her many visits. When Lu Yan asked to be taken inside, Dengdeng explained that the ancestral temple was only accessible to Yu family members during important festivals for ancestor worship, with the next opportunity being the Mid-autumn Festival.
However, she then added that once they were married the next day, he would become a Yu family member, and she could take him to pay respects to the ancestors the following morning.
Episode 4 Recap
Lu Yan, seeking to investigate the secrets within the Yu ancestral temple, asked Dengdeng about its access. Dengdeng explained that only Yu family members were allowed inside on important festive occasions. She then proposed that once they were married the following day, he would officially become a Yu family member, and she could take him to worship ancestors. Lu Yan agreed to the marriage.
He then presented Dengdeng with a hairpin, telling her it was an item to protect her from evil. Internally, he resolved to protect her until the full moon, regardless of the spiritual clan's intentions. Dengdeng, touched by his gesture, happily promised to wear the hairpin constantly and treat him well after their wedding. The next day, as Qingquan Stronghold bustled with wedding preparations, some villagers voiced strong objections.
They feared their Chief was being "allured by a male coquette" and worried he might give "bad suggestions" that could "destroy our Qingquan Stronghold." Lv Er intervened, quashing the argument and showing them a wedding invitation addressed to Gu Beixi, subtly implying Dengdeng’s disinterest in him and ensuring the wedding could proceed as planned.
Meanwhile, Gu Beixi, still fixated on eliminating Lu Yan, prepared to attend the wedding with valuable gifts and his "ancestral dagger," intending to disfigure Lu Yan’s face. At the wedding, Dengdeng, unimpressed by the other chiefs' stingy offerings, generously instructed Dahai to distribute surplus food and money to needy villagers, particularly the sick, elderly, and those with newborns. When Gu Beixi arrived with lavish gifts, Dengdeng accused him of trying to facilitate opium smuggling through Qingquan Stronghold.
Gu Beixi vehemently denied the accusation, claiming he had long severed ties with illicit merchants and supported the opium ban, insisting his gifts were sincere. Dahai, noticing Gu Beixi's wealth and influence, suggested he would make a good match for Dengdeng. However, Dengdeng remained suspicious, fearing the gifts might be "loot" intended to frame her. Later, Gu Beixi overheard some guests discussing Dengdeng's preference for "good-looking" and "clean" men over his "messy" long hair.
Mistakenly concluding she liked short-haired men, he promptly shaved his head. He then confronted Lu Yan, who was calmly practicing calligraphy. Gu Beixi first tried to bribe Lu Yan with money to leave Qingquan Stronghold, then threatened him with a gun. Unfazed, Lu Yan effortlessly subdued Gu Beixi, binding him and leaving him in the woodshed. Lu Yan declared that Dengdeng was his, and whether now or later, she would be. He called Gu Beixi an "eyesore."
Back in Dengdeng's room, her elaborate wedding dress, made of "top-quality brocade," proved too tight and "burst a seam." She sent for Mr. Bu to fix it. Feeling a void in her wedding party, Dengdeng lamented to Dahai that she wished he were a girl, so she could have a "pretty cute little wedding wench." After some hesitation, Dahai dramatically drank some wine and, to Dengdeng's astonishment, transformed into a woman.
Dahai explained this was an aftereffect from his previous injury by wild men, occurring every time he drank, though he reverted when sober. Dengdeng, initially shocked, soon found humor in the situation, promising to seek "science" to cure him. She recruited female Dahai to serve as her wedding wench, primarily to help her deflect drinks and ensure she wasn't too intoxicated for their "bridal chamber" night.
When Mr. Bu arrived to mend the dress, he observed Dengdeng's deep emotional investment in the wedding, contrasting it with Lu Yan's perceived "acting based on circumstance." He explained that a truly loving man would constantly watch, listen, touch, care for, and share his life with the woman he loved, questioning how much Dengdeng truly knew about Lu Yan.
Dengdeng, momentarily disheartened, nonetheless asserted that she desired "his whole being," and sincerity was secondary as long as she "got him," vowing to proceed. As Dengdeng prepared for the ceremony, she wondered if the hairpin Lu Yan gave her was from another woman. Her Second Uncle advised her to remove it, saying it "does not fit." Dengdeng hesitated, considering if it might be a keepsake from Lu Yan's mother, but ultimately decided to keep it.
As she wore it, a dark mist surrounding her suddenly dissipated. At the same time, Lv Er inexplicably woke up in Dengdeng's room, disoriented. Dengdeng, with no time for explanations, hurried him to prepare for the ceremony. The auspicious time arrived, and the wedding ceremony began. Earlier, villagers had tried to force Lu Yan into a "wedding sedan," mocking him for being a man marrying into the family, but he used his powers to scare them off.
Now, at the main ceremony, Lu Yan reluctantly participated but defiantly refused to step over the burning fire pit. Dengdeng’s brief annoyance quickly turned to a smile. Throughout the early rituals, Lu Yan remained uncooperative, prompting guests to pity him for marrying the "female overlord."
During the "bow to each other" segment, Dengdeng, noticing his lack of engagement, forcefully grabbed his hand, warning him to be "serious" and to "remain in your proper sphere, stay in the stronghold, and be my consort." Lu Yan immediately pulled his hand away. Then, Dahai, still in female form, arrived with a rooster, instructing Lu Yan to "offer tea to the main husband, Dahong," a ritual that many onlookers found deeply insulting for a man.
Episode 5 Recap
Following the wedding ceremony, Lu Yan is told that tradition dictates he must serve tea to the "main husband"—a rooster named Big Red. Lu Yan finds the notion laughable. A troublemaker from another stronghold seizes the opportunity to mock him, insisting that the rules must be followed. Annoyed, Yu Dengdeng steps in to defend Lu Yan, declaring the ritual cancelled.
She warns that she can distinguish true friends from those looking to cause trouble and that she will settle scores later. The agitator tries to protest further, but his voice suddenly fails him, a result of Lu Yan's subtle and unseen intervention. To disperse the crowd, Dengdeng then announces it is time for a group photograph. As the photographer sets up his large camera, a device Lu Yan has never seen before, Dengdeng teases him.
She playfully warns him not to blink, lest the camera steals his soul, and tells him to hide behind her if he's scared. Unfazed, Lu Yan reassures her that as long as he is there, no one will harm her. Touched by his words, Dengdeng happily poses for the picture with him. At the wedding banquet, Lu Yan remains cold and silent at the main table, drawing gossip from the other guests.
To save face and protect him, Yu Dengdeng begins drinking heavily on his behalf, toasting everyone with gusto. A'xin quietly warns Lu Yan that if Dengdeng becomes too intoxicated, it could harm the spirit residing within her. Taking this to heart, Lu Yan intervenes when another toast is offered. He takes the bowl of wine meant for Dengdeng and drinks it himself.
When another guest tries to refill the bowl, Lu Yan uses his power to shatter it, putting an end to the drinking for the night. The boisterous crowd then decides it's time to escort the newlyweds to their bridal chamber. While the festivities were underway, Gu Beixi, who had been locked in a woodshed by Lu Yan, manages to get a dog to carry his belt to his men. Once freed, he rushes to find Yu Dengdeng's bridal chamber.
Inside the room, with guests still lingering outside to eavesdrop, Yu Dengdeng begins shaking the bed to create the illusion of a wedding night in progress. She explains to a bewildered Lu Yan that she must put on a show, otherwise people will look down on her as a leader, and by extension, look down on Qingquan Stronghold, which would invite bullying and oppression.
Moved by her sense of responsibility, Lu Yan takes over the task of shaking the bed until the crowd outside finally disperses. In the quiet that follows, he asks Dengdeng if she has any wishes. She reminisces about her last memory of her mother, making a snowman during a rare heavy snow, and wishes she could see her mother's face just one more time. Exhausted and drunk, she soon passes out.
The peace is shattered when a panic erupts in the stronghold. Several of the visiting stronghold leaders have mysteriously aged into immobile, scarecrow-like figures, though they are still breathing. The remaining guests immediately accuse Yu Dengdeng of poisoning them in a plot to take over their territories.
She vehemently denies the accusation and seals all exits to the stronghold to investigate and prevent the news from spreading, arguing it would cause chaos in the other strongholds if they were left leaderless. As the accusations fly, the afflicted men suddenly transform into violent, monstrous creatures and begin to attack. Lu Yan springs into action, using his fighting skills to protect Dengdeng.
Gu Beixi arrives in the middle of the chaos, and Lu Yan instructs him to get Dengdeng to safety, claiming he has his own "magic" to handle the monsters. Once the area is cleared of bystanders, Lu Yan unleashes his true power, uprooting a massive tree with his bare hands and smashing it down upon the creatures to subdue them. The display of supernatural strength leaves everyone stunned.
Lv Er, Dengdeng's second-in-command, drops to his knees, recognizing Lu Yan as a legendary spirit-hunter. The other witnesses quickly follow suit, begging Lu Yan to save them. Amidst the chaos, the surviving guests begin to argue and blame each other. Gu Beixi steps in, forcefully declaring that Qingquan Stronghold is now under his protection and warns anyone against harming Yu Dengdeng. Later, in private with his subordinate, Gu Beixi expresses his doubts.
He recounts how Lu Yan dodged a bullet at point-blank range and effortlessly trapped him in the woodshed. He deduces that someone with such immense power is no ordinary spirit-hunter and could have escaped the stronghold at any time. He concludes that Lu Yan's only reason for staying must be Yu Dengdeng herself. Determined to get Lu Yan's help, Dengdeng approaches him with an offering of rare and expensive foods, fawning over him and flattering his abilities.
Lu Yan is unmoved, coolly suggesting that the other strongholds being leaderless is actually advantageous for her. Infuriated by his callousness, Dengdeng argues that she cannot ignore the suffering of others, regardless of their allegiance. Declaring that she will hunt the source of the monsters herself if he won't help, she turns to leave. Just as she reaches the door, Lu Yan stops her.
He agrees to accompany her down the mountain to find the creature responsible, but on one condition: she must first take off her clothes. Shocked and embarrassed, Dengdeng assumes he is making a sexual demand but resolves to go through with it for the sake of her people. As she fumbles with the complex buttons of her dress, Lu Yan steps forward to assist. " There's a problem with the clothes," he says.
Episode 6 Recap
When Lu Yan asked Dengdeng to remove her wedding dress, she hesitated for a moment but consented for the sake of the villagers, though she struggled with the buttons. Lu Yan stepped forward to help her, and as he did, Dengdeng felt her body move uncontrollably, realizing it was the wedding dress itself that was moving.
Lu Yan quickly used his powers to forcibly remove the dress, pinning it to the wall where it began to emit black smoke and change color. Just then, Dahai and Lv Er burst into the room, mistaking Lu Yan's actions for bullying Dengdeng, but Dengdeng quickly clarified that the wedding dress had problems. Lv Er noted its changed color and suspected it was absorbing human energy, a suspicion Lu Yan confirmed, stating that Dengdeng had been targeted.
Lu Yan explained that a Spirit Clan had drained the consciousness and essence from the affected villagers, poisoning them and causing them to age and lose their minds, turning them into monstrous figures. He stressed the urgency of finding and eliminating this Spirit Clan, warning that without intervention, the victims would succumb to their illness within a day.
Dengdeng remembered that while no one had touched her wedding dress, everyone who fell ill had touched a specific type of waist towel. Lv Er then recalled receiving such a waist towel from Mr. Bu. Dengdeng, having worn the wedding dress all day, wondered why she hadn't transformed like those who only wore the waist towels.
Lu Yan then removed a hairpin from her hair, revealing a lock of white hair, explaining that the hairpin had absorbed most of the Spirit Clan's attacks, but she was still affected. Despite her inner panic, Dengdeng bravely assured everyone that she and Lu Yan would apprehend the monster within a day and restore her beauty.
Lu Yan, however, knew the true stakes; if the Spirit Clan wasn't dealt with swiftly, Dengdeng would age to death, and Yunxi's spirit would dissipate. He immediately dispatched Xin to mobilize his informers to locate the Spirit Clan. As Lu Yan and Dengdeng set out on horseback, they encountered Gu Beixi, who insisted on joining them.
He expressed his disdain for staying in the stronghold with the "old men" and offered the assistance of his own men to protect Qingquan Stronghold. Dengdeng, concerned that he might cause trouble if left unsupervised, agreed to let him accompany them, keeping him under her watchful eye. Upon reaching the city, Lu Yan used his powers to detect Mr. Bu's energy signature, pinpointing his location at a "Fansheng Fashion Show" on Yong'an Street.
Gu Beixi then cunningly sent Dengdeng away to buy meat pies and tea. While she was gone, a child mistook her for an elderly woman, calling her "granny," which vexed Dengdeng. She then discovered that more of her hair had turned white. To hide it, she quickly sought out some pot ash to darken her hair.
Left alone, Gu Beixi confronted Lu Yan, questioning whether Dengdeng's condition was due to the monster or Lu Yan himself, implying they were one and the same. He accused Lu Yan of fabricating the monster hunt as a ploy to lure Dengdeng out of the stronghold. Lu Yan dismissed his accusations. Gu Beixi then declared Dengdeng his woman, warning Lu Yan against harming her. He attempted to attack Lu Yan with "dog blood" and charms, but his efforts proved futile.
Lu Yan sternly warned Gu Beixi that any further delay would only accelerate Dengdeng's demise, stressing that if the culprit wasn't caught, she wouldn't survive the night. He threatened to eliminate Gu Beixi if he continued to impede their progress. They proceeded to Mr. Bu's "Fansheng Fashion Show," where Mr. Bu made a grand entrance.
He regaled the audience with tales of his past as a weaver for the emperor in the weaving workshop in the capital, expressing his desire for the world to marvel at his creations. Suddenly, his features contorted, his hair turned white, and his body twisted into a monstrous form, throwing the crowd into a panic. Gu Beixi moved to engage the monster, but Lu Yan held him back.
Lu Yan used his magic to unseal the doors, allowing the terrified crowd to flee. In the ensuing chaos, Dengdeng accidentally collided with Mr. Ya, whom she helped to escape, though he was preoccupied with his camera. During the rush, Dengdeng's hairpin fell off, but Lu Yan retrieved it and returned it to her, reiterating its importance for her protection. Meanwhile, those who couldn't escape, including Gu Beixi, Xin, and Chang, were ensnared in silken cocoons spun by Mr. Bu.
Dengdeng and Lu Yan were also trapped. Dengdeng lightheartedly chided Lu Yan for being so close that he could see her eye wrinkles and humorously suggested her "vigorous Eight Characters" blood might be effective. Gu Beixi, overhearing talk of blood, attempted to use "black dog blood" he carried, but Lu Yan informed him it was useless against Spirit Clan. Lu Yan then used fire to destroy the cocoons, freeing everyone.
After escaping, they found a weakened Mr. Bu in a back room. He clarified that his clothes and accessories, imbued with his unique energy, were designed to absorb fat, not essence, to help wearers achieve beauty, emphasizing that he had never intended to harm anyone. He attributed his sudden public transformation to a camera flash that had temporarily disoriented him. While considering Mr. Bu's explanation, Lu Yan instructed Xin and Chang to search the surroundings for anything dangerous.
Outside, Dengdeng discovered Mr. Ya's camera. As she reflected on Mr. Ya, the real Spirit Clan, disguised as Mr. Ya, lunged at her. Lu Yan swiftly intervened, revealing the attacker's true identity as the disguised Spirit Clan. The creature then dissipated into a cloud of black smoke and vanished. Dengdeng's chest ached with an intense pain, mirroring her previous encounter, and Lu Yan observed that the toxin was rapidly consuming her body.
They proceeded to Mr. Ya's photo studio for clues. There, they found photographs of all the poisoned elderly men, as well as pictures of child beggars who had recently gone missing. Xin theorized that the Spirit Clan, while disguised as Mr. Ya, had released a subtle, invisible toxin during photo sessions to siphon energy from its victims, and Dengdeng's unique constitution had prevented her from being fully afflicted. Xin also noted their own wedding photo.
Lu Yan suspected that the Spirit Clan had orchestrated Mr. Bu's public transformation as a diversion, allowing it to then target Dengdeng. Gu Beixi attempted to console Dengdeng, assuring her that her hair would regain its black color once the culprit was caught, and complimented her unchanging beauty. Dengdeng, however, misunderstood his affection, believing he was merely continuing his father's ambition to annex Qingquan Stronghold.
An informer from the sedan chair company then reported that the injured Spirit Clan had fled south of the city. They rushed to a ruined temple in that direction, where they discovered skeletons of children and Mr. Ya's gown, which Dengdeng instantly recognized as a gift from her father on Mr. Ya's fiftieth birthday. She realized this was the Spirit Clan's nefarious lair. Lu Yan detected no residual energy, confirming the Spirit Clan had departed.
Dengdeng's condition worsened, her body visibly aging and requiring a walking stick. She noticed her arm beginning to rot. Seeing her distress, Lu Yan suggested they rest. As he examined her, he realized her body was severely ravaged, and she had been bravely enduring immense pain. She then confronted Lu Yan, asking if he had known all along that she would rot and die, just like the other chieftains.
Episode 7 Recap
Zhu Rong, the leader of the Spirit Clan, consumed a Spirit Clan member's energy, but it was far from enough to fully recover his strength. Three thousand years ago, Lu Yan had pierced Zhu Rong's chest with an arrow in the Spirit Clan hall, severely wounding him. Now, Zhu Rong was forced to rely on absorbing the essence of others to repair his own energy.
He learned that Yu Dengdeng unknowingly carried Yun Xi's Energy Core within her and planned to seize it to revive the Black Saintess and ultimately command all of the Nine Continents. Zhu Rong vowed to make Lu Yan kneel before him again and suffer the pain of losing everything. Having endured several harrowing experiences, Dengdeng began to suspect that Lu Yan was not merely a spirit-hunter but might also be a member of the Spirit Clan.
However, as Lu Yan chose not to reveal his true nature, she decided not to press the issue. Lu Yan tried to transfer his vital energy to Dengdeng, who, impressed by this "legendary transfer of internal energy," humorously told him to stop, fearing it would leave him vulnerable to monsters.
She acknowledged him as a "big shot"—referencing how Mr. Bu had called him General Yan and his supernatural powers—and declared her trust that he, even if a Spirit Clan member, would not harm her. Lu Yan then offered her a bag of glutinous rice cakes to help her regain strength. Dengdeng, touched by his kindness, asked where he had acquired them in the wilderness.
Dengdeng, moved by Lu Yan's constant protection, jokingly asked if he harbored feelings for her, then quickly dismissed the idea, stating that if she died young, he would become a widower. She then soberly discussed her impending demise and entrusted him with the protection of Qingquan Stronghold and its vulnerable residents, including Lv Er, if she were to pass away. Lu Yan firmly assured her that he would not let anything happen to her.
Overwhelmed, Dengdeng pressed him further, asking why he was so good to her, a wealthy and handsome man, to willingly remain in their impoverished stronghold filled with the elderly and infirm. Lu Yan revealed his true motive: he desired the Bone of Ying Dragon from the ancestral temple of the Yu family. Dengdeng, after clarifying that it was "the bones of the ancient spirit clan," readily agreed to give it to him, considering it a "return gift."
Lu Yan then urged her to focus on staying safe and not to utter discouraging words. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi, worried about Dengdeng's condition, insisted on going out to find the spirit clan responsible. Sometime later, Xin reported that Gu Beixi had disappeared and noted the smell of spirit clan blood where he had last been. Lu Yan immediately set out to investigate, instructing Xin to stay behind and care for Dengdeng. A short while later, Gu Beixi unexpectedly returned.
Dengdeng was initially relieved, but a flicker of suspicion quickly turned into certainty: the person before her was not the real Gu Beixi. She tested him by recounting a childhood memory, stating that she had cut all his hair when they were young. The imposter claimed to have forgotten such a trivial matter. Dengdeng corrected him, reminding him that he was the one who had shaved all "her" hair and was beaten by his father for it.
With this, she confirmed his deception. Dengdeng subtly signaled Xin, and together they prepared to confront the spirit. However, Xin was quickly overpowered and knocked to the ground. The spirit, still possessing Gu Beixi's body, taunted Dengdeng about her "two men" protecting her. In a desperate move, Dengdeng pulled out her hairpin and stabbed the spirit, forcing it to flee from Gu Beixi's body.
The spirit, now a separate entity, was shocked, questioning how her blood could possess the power to suppress Spirit Clan members. Dengdeng taunted it to chase her to find out. To draw its attention away from the vulnerable Xin and Gu Beixi, Dengdeng bravely ran outside. Just as the spirit lunged at her with a blinding, poisonous light, Lu Yan suddenly appeared, shielding her.
He shattered the spirit's energy, instantly reversing the poisoning in all the afflicted villagers, who returned to their normal states. Lu Yan then carefully bandaged Dengdeng's self-inflicted wound, chiding her for being so reckless. Dengdeng explained her father had once mentioned her blood's power against spirits, and she wanted to test it. Gu Beixi, now recovered, warned her not to become "Tang Monk's flesh" to be devoured by demons, subtly hinting at Lu Yan's ulterior motives.
However, Dengdeng failed to grasp his warning and, relieved, walked away arm-in-arm with Lu Yan. Back at the stronghold, Dengdeng and Lv Er erected a tombstone to mourn Mr. Ya. Dengdeng's thoughts turned to her own mother, lamenting that she had never mourned her or even known where she was buried. Lv Er consoled her, explaining that her father likely kept the details hidden to spare her pain.
Dengdeng pressed him, asking about her mother's death and the mysterious ability of her blood to repel spirits. Lv Er recounted a traumatic event from Dengdeng's childhood: when she was three, a group of outlaws attacked their village, killing residents and seeking young girls. Her mother had bravely hidden her, sacrificing her own life. He further explained that the unique properties of Dengdeng's blood stemmed from an incident when she was a sickly child.
Her father had found and fed her a spirit bird, which not only cured her but also imbued her with great strength and this special blood. Lv Er advised her not to dwell on these thoughts, focusing instead on her good fortune to be safe. Later, under the bright moonlight, Dengdeng went to meet Lu Yan in Gongbao Garden, where he had arranged for them to appreciate the blooming flowers.
Dengdeng presented him with the Bone of Ying Dragon, reiterating her promise. Lu Yan, experiencing a mix of emotions, expressed his desire to thank her properly. He then directed her into a palanquin, which transported her into a magically recreated snow-covered landscape of her childhood home. Overjoyed, Dengdeng recognized the snowfall, the snowman she had built, her mother's handcrafted scarf, and even the old house she grew up in.
She saw her younger self and, deeply moved, cautioned her not to be mischievous or talk about her mother not loving her, reminding her to be filial and protect her mother, especially due to her mother's leg pain. Her mother then approached the adult Dengdeng, noticing her thin clothes and cold hands, and kindly offered her own scarf.
Dengdeng, overwhelmed with emotion, reached out to touch her mother's face and tearfully warned her that the village was unsafe, urging her to leave quickly with her child. Her mother, confused, promised to remember her words. Emerging from the palanquin, Dengdeng returned to reality, tears streaming down her face. She embraced Lu Yan, thanking him for the profound experience, and confessed her worry that his kindness made it impossible for her to ever leave him.
A nearby Xin subtly reminded Lu Yan that the following night was the full moon, and having obtained the Bone of Ying Dragon, it was time to extract Yun Xi's spirit, cautioning him not to be soft-hearted when leading Dengdeng out of the stronghold. Observing the moon, Lu Yan then extended an invitation to Dengdeng to attend the lantern festival in town on the upcoming full moon night.
Dengdeng, delighted by his unexpected invitation, playfully teased him for "getting a clue" and enthusiastically agreed to accompany him. Unbeknownst to Lu Yan, Xin had secretly gone to the city and established a Spirit-gathering formation in an alley within the lantern festival area. However, his actions were discovered by Gu Beixi's men, who reported it to their leader. Gu Beixi sought out Master Huangxuan, a Great spirit-hunter, to examine the formation.
The Master identified it as a potent Spirit-gathering formation created from ancient Spirit Clan bone ashes, controlled by a powerful entity, and declared it unbreakable. He advised that the targeted individual (Dengdeng) must absolutely avoid stepping into the formation. Master Huangxuan then provided Gu Beixi with four consecrated bullets, two for each of them, to use against spirits.
Gu Beixi intercepted Dengdeng at the lantern festival, desperately trying to warn her that Lu Yan was a Spirit Clan member and that the formation was intended to kill her. Dengdeng, however, stubbornly dismissed his warnings, reiterating her trust in Lu Yan and declaring she would marry him even if he were a spirit. She accused Gu Beixi of fabricating stories because he couldn't bear to see her happy.
Gu Beixi persisted, urging her to consider if Lu Yan intended to take her to the riverbank that very night. But Dengdeng again brushed off his concerns. As Lu Yan arrived, Dengdeng cheerfully presented him with a Honeyed glutinous rice cake, a local delicacy said to symbolize sweet and unwavering love. Lu Yan declined to eat it, so Dengdeng tucked it into her bosom to keep it warm. At that moment, Xin urgently reminded Lu Yan that the full moon night was fleeting, the Ying Dragon ashes had been utilized, and this was their sole opportunity.
Episode 8 Recap
On a beautiful evening filled with fireflies, Yu Dengdeng felt incredibly happy. Lu Yan asked her if she had any unfulfilled wishes. She smiled, telling him that he had already made her wishes come true, and now her greatest wish was for his desires to also be realized. Unbeknownst to her, his wish would come at her expense.
Earlier, Lu Yan had given her brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, which he had offered to keep warm in his arms until she wanted them. However, his subordinate reminded him that the full moon night was fleeting, and the Ying Dragon ashes were depleted, emphasizing that this was their only chance. Lu Yan internally apologized, acknowledging his necessary actions. The swarm of fireflies guided Yu Dengdeng into a Spirit-gathering formation.
Before she could fully comprehend the situation, Lu Yan moved against her. A flood of cherished memories with Lu Yan overwhelmed her, from his past kindness to the hairpin he had given her with a promise to protect her from any harm. Now, these memories felt like a cruel joke. Yet, as her blood dripped, it unexpectedly broke the formation. Yu Dengdeng angrily stepped on the dropped glutinous rice cakes, confronting Lu Yan.
She revealed that her father had taught her that her blood, capable of defeating spirit clans, could also destroy all formations. She realized that the Ying Dragon bones were for this purpose, and his presence in Qingquan Stronghold was solely for this. Distraught, she questioned why he, who had treated her so well, now sought her life, even after she had accepted his Spirit Clan identity.
She gave him a final chance to explain, promising to believe him, but Lu Yan remained silent. With a heavy heart, she pulled out a gun, fired two warning shots beside him, and commanded him to leave Qingquan Town, declaring they would never meet again. She then tore off her hairpin and left without a backward glance. Xin, witnessing the event, was stunned, noting that only the blood of the Golden Crow Saintess could break the formation.
Lu Yan pondered if Yu Dengdeng could truly be Yun Xi. Returning to Qingquan Stronghold, Yu Dengdeng locked herself in her room, refusing to eat or see anyone for days. Her subordinates, including Dahai, worried constantly, bringing her food, which she ignored. Upon hearing of Yu Dengdeng's distress, a concerned Gu Beixi woke up, immediately suspecting Lu Yan.
While his followers advised him to seize the opportunity to win Yu Dengdeng's heart, Gu Beixi dismissed their suggestions, stating his only concern was Yu Dengdeng's happiness, as her suffering pained him deeply. Driven by a desire for revenge, Gu Beixi rallied his men and threatened local merchants, ordering them to cease all business with Xin's Sedan Chair Company, warning that non-compliance would result in expulsion from Qingquan Town. He also arranged for drum singers to spread the news.
When Lu Yan learned of Nanfeng Stronghold's interference, he accepted the situation, acknowledging his initial wrongdoing and deciding not to escalate the conflict. Meanwhile, Zhu Rong, having been informed of Yu Dengdeng's ability to break the formation, also dispatched agents to investigate her origins. Yu Dengdeng eventually emerged from her room, outwardly composed, though a deep anger simmered within.
She admonished her subordinates for their extravagance in preparing special dishes like pork liver, spiced pork intestines, and rabbit heads, reminding them of Qingquan Stronghold's need for frugality. Passing through Gongbao Garden, she impulsively slashed a portrait of a beautiful woman, remarking that she would prefer portraits of handsome men. Entering the room Lu Yan once occupied, she was overwhelmed by memories, clutching the hairpin he had given her and recalling his promises of protection juxtaposed with his recent betrayal.
Struggling to maintain her composure, she ordered all of Lu Yan's belongings to be sold, not burned, to generate funds for the stronghold, declaring her intent to use the money for her own enjoyment. She further commanded his sedan chair to be dismantled. Later, when the Yanhuo Stronghold, a small and impoverished stronghold from the 18 mountain strongholds, sought permission to transport stones through Qingquan Stronghold for an expansion, Yu Dengdeng firmly refused.
Lv Er recounted how Yu Dengdeng had beaten their chief last year for encroaching on farmland, and how they were now trying to curry favor. Daqian suggested granting permission, as Yanhuo Stronghold's growth could threaten Nanfeng Stronghold, and Qingquan could collect tolls. However, Yu Dengdeng rejected the idea, expressing her distaste for the name "Yanhuo" (meaning "flaming fire"), linking it to her current feelings of revulsion towards Lu Yan.
She also recalled that the Yanhuo chief had cursed her mother during their past altercation, a deep insult she had not forgotten. Declaring that "it's never too late for a gentleman to take revenge," she ordered Dahai to assemble dozens of brothers to destroy the stronghold. Daqian supported the decision, arguing that Yanhuo Stronghold's fence-sitting allegiance could be detrimental to Qingquan if they were absorbed by Gu Beixi. Yu Dengdeng then gave Daqian the honor of leading the assault.
Furthermore, she decreed a series of measures to systematically erase Lu Yan's presence: old target practice equipment would be replaced with new targets featuring Lu Yan's face, and special dishes once prepared for him would be given derogatory names such as "Cruel and Unscrupulous Package," "By Hook or By Crook Package," "Black Sheep Package," and "Worse Than a Beast Package." She also banned the name "Xin's Sedan Chair Company" from appearing anywhere in town.
Despite these retaliatory actions, when Lu Yan was informed that Qingquan Stronghold was causing trouble for Xin's Sedan Chair Company, he simply stated that as long as Yu Dengdeng was happy, she could cause all the trouble she wished. Meanwhile, Chang reported that Paralyzed Yu was last sighted in Yingdu, but his exact location remained unknown, and Yingdu had become quite unstable.
Xin revealed he had been secretly monitoring Lv Er, who, after visiting Yu Dengdeng's mother's grave in the back mountain, also paid respects and burned paper at a small, unnamed grave. At this grave, Lv Er tearfully spoke, addressing a "child" who would have been a grown woman by now.
He mentioned placing the child's memorial tablet in the Yu family ancestral temple, intending for the former chieftain to reveal the truth to Yu Dengdeng and add the child's story to the family tree. Finding this suspicious, Lu Yan decided to investigate personally. He followed Lv Er to the Yu family ancestral temple, where he confronted him upon seeing a memorial tablet bearing the name Yu Dengdeng.
Lu Yan demanded an explanation, but Lv Er evasively claimed it was a fake tablet created years ago to fool the King of Hell because the young Yu Dengdeng was frail, and accused Lu Yan of being a liar, urging him to "be conscientious." Lu Yan then pressed for the whereabouts of the Golden Crow Bird that the former chieftain brought back twenty years ago. Lv Er insisted it had been eaten, despite Lu Yan's disbelief.
Their conversation was abruptly cut short by the arrival of Daqian. Lu Yan later returned to his former courtyard, now dilapidated, including his sedan chair which had been torn down as per Yu Dengdeng's orders. He felt a pang of sadness at the sight. Noticing a spiritual butterfly, he crushed it and then reinforced the barrier around Qingquan Stronghold, realizing other Spirit Clan members were secretly monitoring Yu Dengdeng.
He tasked Xin with finding a way to confirm if Yu Dengdeng was indeed Yun Xi, acknowledging that someone had already set their sights on her. Xin visited a library, where the librarian, recognizing him as someone who once stood by the Saintess, directed him to the "Collection of Thousands of Years' Knowledge" by Long Yangzi, a book by a Tang Dynasty spirit-hunter containing extensive records of the Spirit Clan and spirits.
However, the librarian only possessed the first half, lamenting that the crucial second half, which held all the secrets of spirit clans and spirits, was nowhere to be found. The librarian speculated that if General Yan (Lu Yan) himself needed to verify a spirit, it could only be the Saintess, foreshadowing renewed conflict given the turmoil caused by the Saintess giving her energy core to General Yan in the past.
Worried about the impending unrest, the librarian decided to retreat to safety. Xin, observing Lu Yan's relentless efforts to protect Yu Dengdeng, began to question if his master's concern stemmed from more than just her potential identity as the Saintess, pondering why Lu Yan wouldn't return the hairpin to her if her safety was truly his paramount concern.
Episode 9 Recap
Qingquan Stronghold began selling Lu Yan's belongings at low prices on the street, and in no time, the items were all snatched up. Dahai, in the meantime, hired a theatre troupe to perform a play for the villagers, accusing Lu Yan of ingratitude. As Lu Yan walked through the streets, he was deeply troubled by these sights. To confirm whether Yu Dengdeng was truly Yun Xi, the second half of the "Collection of Thousand-Year Truths" was essential.
Given the Spirit Clan's hidden designs on her, Lu Yan felt he could not rest easy, confiding to Xin that her safety was his top priority. Xin suggested that Lu Yan should return the protective hairpin to her as the primary way to ensure her protection. Lu Yan followed Yu Dengdeng to a teahouse, where he noticed a suspicious individual. To avoid alerting anyone, he hid and observed. After a long wait, Gu Beixi had yet to arrive.
Instead, the theatre boss approached Yu Dengdeng, introducing a young actor named Lu as a potential companion. Feeling a need to distract herself, Yu Dengdeng decided to keep the actor and test him. She asked if he knew how to play morra. To her surprise, the elegant actor was familiar with the common game. Seeing this, the theatre boss quickly ushered everyone else out of the room.
As the actor, fueled by alcohol, began to make advances on Yu Dengdeng, Lu Yan subtly entered and used his powers to make the actor hit himself. Yu Dengdeng, seemingly having a revelation, began to recount a story to the actor about a "big dumb rabbit" and a "big white rabbit."
She described the big dumb rabbit as strong and revered, but one day, the good-looking, mysterious big white rabbit, whom she had brought home and cherished more than gold, peeled away her skin, ripped out her flesh, and grabbed her heart. It was then the big dumb rabbit realized she had been tricked. The big white rabbit revealed itself to be a wolf. Yu Dengdeng, in her intoxicated state, laughed heartily but privately acknowledged her profound sadness.
She expressed her deep hatred for the wolf, but even more so for her own blindness in not realizing its true nature sooner. As she drifted into a drunken sleep, the actor reached out to touch her face. Before Lu Yan could intervene, Gu Beixi suddenly appeared and beat the actor. Gu Beixi then gently carried the sleeping Yu Dengdeng to his carriage. In the carriage, Yu Dengdeng rested against him like a fragile kitten.
He noted to himself that he was a righteous man and wouldn't take advantage of her at that moment. As they rode into the forest, a strange fog enveloped them, and a commotion was heard. Gu Beixi, noticing the odd change, led his brothers to investigate. Mysteriously, they suddenly lost consciousness and began walking like automatons towards a cliff. Lu Yan, who had been observing, realized they were under an illusion.
He instructed Xin to rescue Gu Beixi and his men while he went to attend to Yu Dengdeng. As he approached the carriage, a butterfly flew by. Lu Yan struck it away with a palm, then reached out to place the hairpin on Yu Dengdeng. At that moment, she suddenly awoke. Opening her eyes to see Lu Yan, Yu Dengdeng instantly became wary. She pushed him away and leaped out of the carriage.
She confronted him, reminding him that after he took her life and she spared his, they were even. She told him that she didn't want to see him and demanded he leave, threatening him with her gun and recalling that she hadn't "blown his head off" last time. Her gun, however, failed to fire. Soon after, Xin, having rescued Gu Beixi and his men from the cliff, arrived with them.
Gu Beixi confronted Lu Yan, but Yu Dengdeng, unwilling to prolong the conflict, urged everyone to ignore him and quickly led her people away. Xin later reported to Lu Yan that illusory spirits possessed low energy but were adept at manipulating butterflies. The scales on these butterflies could create the most realistic illusions, easily affecting ordinary individuals without strong willpower, and were difficult to dispel. He added that these illusory spirits acted discreetly and were hard to detect.
Lu Yan reflected on the situation, noting that even a small place like Qingquan Town could attract such covetous attention from various Spirit Clan members. He reiterated that regardless of whether Yu Dengdeng was Yun Xi, her safety was paramount. He was even prepared to return her energy core if it meant fulfilling her aspirations, even if it cost him his life. Xin assured Lu Yan he would ensure no evil could approach Qingquan Stronghold.
Meanwhile, the butterfly Lu Yan had struck returned to Zhu Rong, who healed its injury and instructed it to continue monitoring the situation, acknowledging its feat of surviving Lu Yan. Back at Qingquan Stronghold, Yu Dengdeng's mood remained low. She confessed to Lu Er that she hated Lu Yan but also wondered if her initial actions of bringing him to the mountain were the cause of their current predicament.
Lu Er comforted her, assuring her that she was not to blame, describing Lu Yan as "heartless" and "without humanity," and affirming that she deserved the world's best man. Yu Dengdeng had developed a toothache, and Lu Er learned from a doctor that it was an "inflammatory condition" caused by her unresolved anger and sorrow, suggesting only happiness would truly cure it.
Lu Yan secretly entered Yu Dengdeng's room with glutinous rice cakes from Li's, noticing the many portraits of himself on the walls and feeling a mix of emotions. Just then, Dahai entered with a bag of glutinous rice cakes he had bought from another shop, as Li's had sold out. Before Dahai could notice, Lu Yan covertly swapped the bags, replacing Dahai's with his own.
Yu Dengdeng, seemingly sensing something, instructed Dahai to share the cakes among the others, claiming she had quit eating sugary foods due to her toothache, a subtle jab at Lu Yan. Xin later reported Yu Dengdeng's toothache to Lu Yan, noting her cheeks were swollen and urging him to visit. Lu Yan remained silent.
Xin persistently emphasized the severity of a toothache, stating it was "not a disease, but it hurts like hell," and that her cheeks were so swollen she might not be able to speak. Annoyed by Xin's chatter, Lu Yan eventually dismissed him. Dahai, seeing Yu Dengdeng's continued distress, privately encouraged Gu Beixi to pursue her and help her forget Lu Yan, urging him to change his clumsy, antagonistic style of courtship to one that was more direct with his affections.
Gu Beixi, though initially critical of Yu Dengdeng's weakness, agreed to try a new tactic. He tasked his subordinate, Wan, with finding his mother's ancestral jewel ring as a gift for Yu Dengdeng. During the search, an old engagement letter was discovered, formalizing a childhood betrothal between Gu Beixi and a Miss Bai from Yingdu. Gu Beixi, however, dismissed the document, declaring Yu Dengdeng as the only future wife for him, and ordered it burned.
Later that evening, he prepared a pear soup with ice to soothe Yu Dengdeng's toothache. Gu Beixi visited Yu Dengdeng in her room that night, offering the pear soup. He gently reminded her of their childhood, recalling how she would beat him and then tell his father, leading to further punishment for him. He playfully noted that her childhood assertiveness seemed to have vanished and joked about her swollen cheeks.
Yu Dengdeng found herself amused and thanked him for his kindness. However, his words soured her mood when he expressed a wish for Qingquan Stronghold to "always be in trouble," so he could remain by her side and care for her. Enraged by the suggestion that he harbored ill intentions towards her stronghold, Yu Dengdeng immediately began to kick and hit him, demanding he leave and accusing him of wanting to annex her territory.
As he retreated, Gu Beixi playfully threatened to take down Qingquan Stronghold the next day and make her his wife. When Gu Beixi finally left, Yu Dengdeng turned to find Lu Yan standing silently in her room.
Episode 10 Recap
Dengdeng, startled to see Lu Yan, quickly walked past him into her room. Lu Yan stood at her door and told her he heard she had a toothache, so he brought some medicine. Inside, Dengdeng clenched her fists, reminding herself to calm down. She sternly told herself not to be softhearted just because Lu Yan showed a little kindness, remembering he was the man who had tried to kill her, calling it her biggest problem.
She resolved to put him out of sight and out of mind before going to sleep. Lu Yan looked down at the bottle in his hand, sighed softly, and then quietly left Qingquan Stronghold. The next morning, Dengdeng opened her door and found the bottle on the ground. She realized Lu Yan had specifically come to bring her medicine. Soon after, Peng Dahai rushed in.
Dengdeng handed the bottle to him, telling him not to waste the medicine and to distribute it among the brothers who needed it. Lv Er then solemnly informed Dengdeng that her father had gone missing. Her father, who couldn't go three days without gambling, had been gone for half a month, which was highly unusual. To find him, Dengdeng decided to go to Yingdu.
Lv Er warned her that the path to Yingdu passed through a mysterious market, a heterotopia between Qianhe Town and Yingdu accessible only to members of the spirit clan. While humans couldn't enter freely, the presence of spirit clans outside could be dangerous. Dengdeng insisted, stating that if she were unlucky enough to encounter the spirit clan, bringing the entire stronghold wouldn't help.
Peng Dahai supported her, saying the stronghold would be leaderless if Lv Er left, and boasted about his own strength. Dengdeng added that her blood could deal with "evil things." Convinced, Lv Er agreed to let her go, giving her an amulet he called a family heirloom to save her life at critical moments. Meanwhile, Lu Yan, upon hearing about Dengdeng's journey to Yingdu, immediately instructed A Chang and A Xin to pack their luggage and follow her secretly.
He noted that the mysterious market, with its auction house for precious treasures, would be a good place to find clues about the Millennium Memorial. Lu Yan also stressed the need to clear any obstacles, whether human or spirit clan, before Dengdeng encountered them, as he anticipated troubles on their journey. True to his word, Lu Yan and his men intercepted and dealt with the Yanhuo Stronghold members who had planned to ambush Dengdeng on the road.
As Dengdeng hurried out of Qingquan Stronghold, Peng Dahai frequently raised questions, seemingly trying to slow her down. Gu Beixi then appeared, claiming he was also going to Yingdu to see his childhood fiancée. Dengdeng initially refused his company, but Peng Dahai and Gu Beixi collaboratively persuaded her. Gu Beixi lamented that the Yanhuo Stronghold, still bitter from their previous defeat, would target him if he traveled alone due to his known alliance with Qingquan Stronghold.
Peng Dahai argued it would be a bad look for Qingquan Stronghold to abandon him. Dengdeng reluctantly agreed to let him join. Dengdeng had planned to rest in Luowu Village before dusk. She anticipated an ambush from Yanhuo Stronghold but was surprised to be met with enthusiastic hospitality instead of a fight. Initially wary, Dengdeng decided to "take things as they come" and accepted their offer.
Gu Beixi grew increasingly suspicious and discreetly questioned one of the Yanhuo Stronghold members, who revealed that a "nicely dressed boss" had paid them to safely escort Dengdeng and her companions to Qianhe Town. Gu Beixi realized it was Lu Yan's doing and told the man not to tell Dengdeng, knowing she would dislike the interference. Upon arriving in Qianhe Town, Dengdeng and Peng Dahai immediately sought a restaurant for a meal.
After eating, they realized their funds were low, as they had reimbursed Gu Beixi for paying off the Yanhuo Stronghold. As they searched for an affordable inn, the shopkeeper of Laifu Hotel enthusiastically greeted them, declaring them the 10,000th lucky customers and offering the town's best accommodation at a very low price. Gu Beixi then appeared, trying to persuade them to go to another, cheaper inn he had found.
However, the Laifu Hotel owner countered by offering free accommodation, three meals a day, and horse care. Dengdeng, surprised by her luck, agreed to stay, assigning Gu Beixi the distant "Number 1 room" while she took "Number 2." The shopkeeper informed her that the room next to hers was already occupied. Upon entering her room, Dengdeng found a plate of glutinous rice cakes, the hotel's specialty, placed there.
Eating them, she couldn't help but think of Lu Yan, recalling his previous attempt to give her his special brown sugar flavored rice cakes. Later, Peng Dahai came to invite Dengdeng out for a stroll, mentioning a lively event happening in Qianhe Town. Dengdeng spotted a ring toss game. Encouraged by Peng Dahai, she displayed exceptional skill, hitting every target, which garnered cheers from onlookers.
Unbeknownst to her, Lu Yan was watching from an upstairs window, his gaze soft and adoring. The stall owner, overwhelmed by her success, offered to buy back the prizes she won with money, solving Dengdeng's financial woes. She beamed excitedly, claiming her "good fortune" and boasting about her skills, calling herself a master of "never missing" and "hitting every target." As Dengdeng and Peng Dahai merrily headed back to the hotel, they encountered a "thief."
With Lu Yan's subtle assistance, they quickly noticed the thief and gave chase, cornering him in an alley. The "thief" turned out to be a spirit clan member, cowering like a frightened deer. Dengdeng, a spirit-hunter whose blood could "ward off monsters of the spirit clan," warned him not to move.
The spirit clan member pleaded for mercy, revealing he was not stealing but was sent by General Yan to give them money, showing the money bag was untouched and contained extra coins. Dengdeng realized this was Lu Yan's doing. The spirit clan member confirmed that the "General Yan" he referred to was Lu Yan, and that all spirit clansmen in the surrounding area, for tens of miles, followed his orders, having been "with them all the way."
He admitted that the free hotel stay and the rigged ring toss game were also part of General Yan's arrangements. Dengdeng, unwilling to accept Lu Yan's help, threw the money back at the spirit clan member and told him to relay to General Yan that she found his tricks childish and wanted him to withdraw his people, warning that she wouldn't be polite if he didn't. Peng Dahai also bragged that his Master was a "well-known top-tier spirit-hunter."
The spirit clan member tearfully pleaded with Dengdeng, explaining that disobeying General Yan would mean death for him and his entire family, then offered to tell them a legend about General Yan.
Episode 11 Recap
The thief, looking serious, stated that Lu Yan is far more terrifying than a spirit-hunter. He revealed to Dengdeng and Dahai the legend of General Yan. Three thousand years ago, a devastating war between the spirit clan and human race lasted for decades. A young general in ancient Shu ended this war single-handedly and was thus named "General Yan" by the later generations of the spirit clan.
Dengdeng, hearing this, realized Lu Yan was once human, but the thief clarified that Lu Yan is now half human and half spirit. He explained that General Yan fell in love with the Spirit Clan Saintess and was hunted by the spirit clan. During the pursuit, General Yan was severely injured. To save him, the Saintess sacrificed her Energy Core, giving it to him. This act greatly enhanced General Yan's power, transforming him into a half-human, half-spirit being.
Consequently, even low-ranking spirit clansmen like the thief dare not disobey him. Dengdeng understood, realizing that Lu Yan indeed had a past love interest. Dahai, intrigued, pressed the thief about the Saintess's fate. The thief explained that without her Energy Core, which was the spirit clan's energy source, the Saintess's power greatly diminished. Ultimately, her original form as a Golden Crow divine bird was injured, and her spirit dissipated.
However, rumors circulated that three thousand years ago, General Yan, desiring to reunite the Saintess's spirit, placed one of her remaining spiritual feathers in Qingquan Mountain. He then sealed himself there, nourishing the feather with his Energy Core daily, enduring torment with the sole hope of her reincarnation. Dengdeng recalled her childhood illness at three or four years old, cured by a "spirit bird" her father brought from the mountains.
Dahai wondered if it was the same sacred bird their Senior Master had brought back from Qingquan Mountain for her to eat twenty years ago. Dengdeng dismissed Dahai’s attempts to soothe her, stating that a sacred bird capable of resurrection would be unique, "not a pheasant." The realization then struck her: Lu Yan had tried to kill her because she had consumed his former lover. Dengdeng questioned why Lu Yan had given them money along the way.
She concluded it was a deliberate ploy to lower their guard, likening it to a plan to "cut her belly open like a fish" to retrieve the sacred bird, which she believed wouldn't have fully digested. She then pointed out that the glutinous rice cakes in her room tasted exactly like those from Qingquan Town.
When Dahai confirmed his room had none, Dengdeng realized Lu Yan had followed them to Qianhe Town and orchestrated their stay in the "free" room as a trap, an act she deemed "too evil." Terrified, she urged Dahai to find Gu Beixi so they could immediately escape, convinced they couldn't defeat Lu Yan. Fearing for her life, Dengdeng decided to flee immediately. She and Dahai hurriedly prepared, making wormwood pouches for protection, though Dahai was skeptical of their efficacy.
Unable to find Gu Beixi in his room, Dahai left him a note about meeting outside the city. Discovering their horses had been taken, Dengdeng and Dahai stole a carriage from the backyard—a carriage Lu Yan had intentionally left for them. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi confronted Lu Yan in his room, warning him to stay away from Dengdeng.
Gu Beixi fiercely declared he would kill Lu Yan if he harmed Dengdeng, vowing to fight him with guns, cannons, explosives, and his own life, even if Lu Yan was a formidable "lion, a tiger, or a python." Lu Yan dismissed the threats, stating Dengdeng was none of Gu Beixi's concern. Lu Yan's subordinate, Xin, noted Gu Beixi's genuine loyalty but questioned Lu Yan's continued secret protection of Dengdeng without revealing the truth about her potential identity as Yun Xi.
Lu Yan maintained that rushing to tell her about the three-thousand-year-old events before confirming her identity would only lead to mistrust. Xin then reported that Dengdeng and Dahai had left the city. On the road, Dengdeng was optimistic that Lu Yan couldn't pursue them without a horse, but Dahai reminded her that Lu Yan, as a "monster," didn't need one. Realizing they couldn't reach Yingdu that night, they decided to find lodging.
In the woods, a young boy attempted to pickpocket them. Dengdeng gave the boy some buns, but the child used the distraction to steal Gu Beixi's money bag. Gu Beixi chased the boy, and Dengdeng, concerned for the child, followed. A girl intervened, stopping the boy and returning Gu Beixi's money. She warned them about the thick fog in the dense forest at night, making travel dangerous, and offered them lodging at her "Rose Hotel" five kilometers ahead.
Dengdeng, upon finding the girl didn't recognize "General Yan," decided it was safe to accept her invitation. To their surprise, Lu Yan was also at the Rose Hotel. As Dengdeng was about to go upstairs, Lu Yan warned her that it wasn't safe at night and to "be careful." Dengdeng, believing this was a veiled threat to cut her open, retorted that his presence made it more dangerous and insisted he leave.
Despite her defiance, she and Lu Yan both took rooms. Inside their room, Dahai questioned her decision to stay, but Dengdeng pointed out the sudden thick fog outside, making travel perilous. She reasoned that with more people in the inn, Lu Yan would be less likely to act. Though she outwardly displayed courage, Dahai noticed she was trembling, revealing her fear. They decided to make more protective wormwood pouches.
When the innkeeper called them for dinner, Dengdeng, resolved not to "die of hunger," went down to eat. Due to their depleted funds, she could only order vegetarian dishes. Gu Beixi, noticing her predicament, offered to "lend" her money in exchange for one of her wormwood pouches, which Dengdeng gladly accepted, noting that "money works better" for protection. She also gave Gu Beixi an amulet from Lv Er, which she felt she didn't need.
Gu Beixi then ostentatiously flaunted the gifts and openly provoked Lu Yan, accusing him of being "heartless" like all spirit clan members. Lu Yan swiftly used a spell to silence him. Dengdeng demanded Lu Yan release Gu Beixi, and Lu Yan lifted the spell. He then ascended the stairs, reiterating, "Be safe at night." Dengdeng, furious, scolded Gu Beixi for provoking Lu Yan, fearing that Lu Yan's warning was a prelude to harming her that very night.
That night, Dengdeng and Dahai resolved to stay vigilant against Lu Yan. Later, a hungry Dahai ventured out for food, only to find Gu Beixi asleep at their door, having decided to stand guard. Softening, Dengdeng invited Gu Beixi inside to rest. In the kitchen, Dahai discovered a child playing with an item that belonged to Paralyzed Yu, their Senior Master. The child explained that someone named Daidai had found it in the mysterious market.
Dahai rushed back to inform Dengdeng and Gu Beixi. Gu Beixi explained that the mysterious market was a kind of "other space" only accessible to the spirit clan. Dengdeng, realizing her father, as a spirit-hunter, must have found a way in, decided they needed to go there. However, as they stepped outside, they witnessed Lu Yan's subordinates, Chang and Xin, chastising the innkeeper girl, with Lu Yan silently appearing behind them.
Dengdeng attempted to use her wormwood pouches, chanting protective spells, but they proved utterly useless. Convinced of her impending demise, Dengdeng offered her life to Lu Yan if he would spare Dahai and Gu Beixi. Lu Yan intervened, revealing that the innkeeper girl was a spirit clan member who had used magic to transform an abandoned house into a hotel, intending to steal from travelers at night.
He explained she had increased the dose of her sleeping powder due to his potent energy, causing all the other guests to fall into a deep unconsciousness. He credited Lv Er's amulets for Dengdeng, Dahai, and Gu Beixi's immunity. Lu Yan then proposed that Dengdeng accompany him to the mysterious market to find a cure for the unconscious guests, stating her presence was essential, while his subordinates would remain to guard the innkeeper spirit and the sleeping travelers.
Gu Beixi, suspicious of a trap, warned Dengdeng against it. Dengdeng initially balked at leaving her companions behind. Lu Yan explained that he couldn't leave her vulnerable to further spirit clan attacks, as the mastermind remained unknown, and also hoped a visit to the market would change her perception of the spirit clan. Left with no other option, Lu Yan reluctantly agreed to bring Dahai and Gu Beixi along.
Dengdeng privately resolved to use Lu Yan's guidance to enter the mysterious market and then escape to find her father, whom she believed could deal with Lu Yan as "the world's number one spirit-hunter." Upon entering the bustling mysterious market, Lu Yan magically elongated their ears to help them blend in, explaining it would prevent unwanted attention. As they explored, Dengdeng and Dahai found the market surprisingly similar to the human world, easing their tension.
Lu Yan explained that the mysterious market was a unique "spirit space" accessible only by spirit clan energy, with Qianhe Town serving as an entrance. He pointed out vendors they had seen in Qianhe Town now selling spirit-enhancing foods, demonstrating that many spirit clan members worked hard to earn money, similar to humans, dispelling Gu Beixi's notion that they only "rob or kill." Lu Yan then handed Dengdeng a book, the "Bailing Spectrum," to further educate her.
Reading a passage, Dengdeng discovered General Yan—Lu Yan—was described as "violent and sadistic," one who "eats enemies alive, skins them, shatters their bones, and leaves no survivors." Despite Lu Yan's explanations, Dengdeng, angered by the revelation, secretly prayed to reunite with her father so he could "take care of this stinky spirit clan member." At that moment, a flying whale soared across the night sky.
Episode 12 Recap
As a transparent Kun fish, glowing golden, shimmered across the night sky, people paused their activities to gaze and pray. This ethereal sight, Lu Yan explained to Yu Dengdeng, appears whenever a powerful Spirit Clansman passes away in the mysterious market, signifying their existence and transforming their remaining energy into a blessing for those still living. Flower petals then cascaded from above, prompting Yu Dengdeng to reflect on the saying, "Once the whale falls, all things are born."
Before this, Yu Dengdeng had offered a prayer, hoping for the strength to survive until she reunited with her father, so he could deal with what she called the "stinking Spirit Clansman." Lu Yan then led Yu Dengdeng, Dahai, and Gu Beixi to the Changle Tavern, a place frequented by powerful Spirit Clansmen who struggled to live normally among humans.
He intended to acquire a drug called Wuxiang Pill, which could alleviate the coma suffered by the drugged travelers at their inn. Gu Beixi, curious about the pill, asked for its ingredients, thinking he might make some for Qingquan Stronghold. Lu Yan revealed its true, repulsive components: the excrement of hundred-year-old cockroach Spirit Clansmen, the wings of stink bugs, and fungi growing on corpses.
Yu Dengdeng recoiled in disgust, questioning why such a foul concoction was given the appealing name "Wuxiang Pill." Lu Yan clarified that its rarity and high demand among Spirit Clansmen led to its pleasant name. He further explained that, beyond waking the unconscious, its primary use was to replenish qi and nourish the kidneys. Gu Beixi, scoffing, declared it was not for him.
Before entering the tavern, Lu Yan warned Yu Dengdeng, Dahai, and Gu Beixi about the powerful spirits inside and the risk of their human identities being exposed. He instructed them to wait outside and placed a hairpin in Yu Dengdeng's hair, cautioning her not to lose it. The moment Lu Yan disappeared inside, however, the trio ignored his warning and slipped in after him to search for Yu Dengdeng's father.
Inside, Lu Yan inquired about the lower half of the "Collection of Thousands of Years' Knowledge," learning that a Giant Spirit had acquired it. He approached the Giant Spirit, who was boasting about his recent treasures, and offered a rare fluorite, a precious gem from 3000 years ago, as an exchange, successfully acquiring the book. Just then, he heard Yu Dengdeng's distressed cry and rushed off.
Approximately half an hour earlier, Yu Dengdeng, Dahai, and Gu Beixi had split up to search for Paralyzed Yu, who was known for leaving coded messages. Dahai and Gu Beixi soon found a series of these marks. Dahai, familiar with his master's unique notation, deciphered them: Paralyzed Yu had come to the Mysterious Market for an item, failed to find it, got lost, ran out of money, and, after cursing the place, had departed.
Realizing Paralyzed Yu was no longer there, Dahai and Gu Beixi hurried to inform Yu Dengdeng. Meanwhile, Yu Dengdeng accidentally bumped into a Spirit Clansman, who theatrically feigned injury and demanded compensation. Yu Dengdeng accused her of blackmail, but the Spirit Clansman, using her keen sense of smell, detected Yu Dengdeng's human scent and loudly exposed her. A crowd of Spirit Clansmen quickly surrounded Yu Dengdeng, yelling at her to leave the Mysterious Market.
A hidden female Spirit Clansman then cast an illusion spell, making the surrounding spirits appear monstrous and terrifying. Overwhelmed and disoriented, Yu Dengdeng cried out for Lu Yan. Having heard her call, Lu Yan appeared instantly, informing her she was under an illusion, and swiftly carried her away after she closed her eyes. Dahai and Gu Beixi, rushing towards Yu Dengdeng's cries, also fell victim to the illusion.
Gu Beixi found himself in a massacred Qingquan Stronghold, where he witnessed Lu Yan strangling Yu Dengdeng, prompting him to shout for her release. Dahai, in his illusion, dreamed he was a pregnant bride on his wedding day, with children approaching him and calling him "Mum." Gu Beixi was the first to wake, spluttering a mouthful of wine onto Dahai to snap him out of his nightmare. Dahai, though startled, quickly realized it was merely a dream.
They then discovered that both Gu Beixi's amulet (which Yu Dengdeng had given him) and Dahai's own amulet had turned to ash, confirming they had been attacked and their lives spared by the amulets. They immediately decided to leave and find Yu Dengdeng. Lu Yan carried Yu Dengdeng away from the Mysterious Market into a nearby forest.
He treated her sprained ankle with his energy, explaining that she couldn't move it for the night and promising to retrieve their friends later. They took refuge in a cave where Lu Yan set up a protective barrier. Yu Dengdeng expressed her fear of being alone with him, believing he intended to seek revenge and attack her, yet she also worried about being abandoned.
When Lu Yan challenged if she was afraid, she defiantly declared that the word "fear" was not in her dictionary. Lu Yan suggested they rest until dawn, but Yu Dengdeng, still wary, refused to sleep, fearing his retribution. He playfully countered that he would sleep, leaving her to stand guard as he would be unconscious.
Yu Dengdeng, feeling hungry but denying it, was offered grilled fish by Lu Yan, who went to catch one from a nearby river, despite her initial refusal. As he roasted the fish, Yu Dengdeng, surprised, remarked that she hadn't expected a "nobleman" like him to know such practical skills. When he offered her the cooked fish, she, despite her suspicion of poison, ate it, stating she would rather be "a full ghost" than a hungry one.
With only the two of them present, Yu Dengdeng directly confronted Lu Yan, stating she understood his motives. She accused him of following her because she had "eaten" his "old lover" and that he intended to kill her for her spirit consciousness to resurrect his beloved. Lu Yan questioned who had told her this, but Yu Dengdeng evaded his question. He corrected her, clarifying that the woman was not his "old lover" but someone he deeply admired.
Yu Dengdeng, intrigued, pressed him further, asking what kind of woman could haunt him for three millennia, making him yearn for her so intensely that he would kill for her. Lu Yan's memories then flashed back to a battlefield 3000 years ago in the ancient Shu Kingdom. His soldiers, struck by poisonous golden powder, fell into Spirit Clan illusions, turning on each other. Lu Yan, warning them, realized their minds were lost.
Zhu Rong appeared, gloating about Lu Yan's lack of reinforcements and declaring the end of Shu with his death. Lu Yan defiantly vowed to fight to his last breath. Zhu Rong mocked his patriotism, claiming it would be his undoing. As Zhu Rong prepared a fatal blow, Yun Xi intervened, imploring him to cease the indiscriminate slaughter. Zhu Rong dismissed her as naive, asserting that the world was governed by the law of the jungle and only the strongest survived.
Yun Xi countered that war would destroy the land for both races, proposing that the vast Nine Continents and humanity's wisdom offered a different path—one where the Spirit Clan could learn to coexist peacefully with humans. Zhu Rong scoffed, calling humans a "lower race" and questioning why Yun Xi, the Saintess of the Spirit Clan, repeatedly favored them and had sealed her killing intent, which he saw as a betrayal of their future.
Yun Xi proclaimed that all life, be it human, spirit, plant, or tree, was sacred and should not be easily destroyed. She believed the Spirit Clan's future lay not in conquest. Zhu Rong, seeing her unwavering resolve, prepared to attack. Yun Xi urged Lu Yan to flee, but he refused, joining her in battling Zhu Rong. During the intense fight, Lu Yan was gravely injured. Yun Xi, managing to repel Zhu Rong, carried Lu Yan to a safe, barrier-protected area.
Lu Yan awoke to find Yun Xi tending to him. He recognized her and asked about his soldiers. Yun Xi explained that Zhu Rong had retreated, heavily injured, and his soldiers had scattered. Lu Yan wanted to search for them, but Yun Xi insisted he first heal. As she treated him, Lu Yan observed that her blood was red, unlike the green blood of other Spirit Clansmen.
Yun Xi explained that as the Spirit Clan Saintess, she was nourished by an energy core, making her unique. Lu Yan thanked her for saving his life, promising to repay her. Yun Xi humbly dismissed his gratitude, but Lu Yan insisted he disliked owing favors. Yun Xi then requested that he take her to explore the Nine Continents. Lu Yan hesitated, concerned about any potential threat to his people.
Yun Xi clarified her intentions: she had once believed humans and all life on the Nine Continents were inferior and merely food for spirits. However, after witnessing the world, she realized "everything has a spirit; grasses and trees have hearts too," and should not be so easily destroyed. She hoped to discover a path for humans and spirits to coexist peacefully, beyond endless conflict.
Lu Yan agreed to escort her, but with strict conditions: she must not use her energy and must remain by his side. He warned that any action threatening the people of the Nine Continents would not be tolerated. Yun Xi accepted his terms, and Lu Yan mused that she might indeed be the turning point for the two races. Lu Yan led Yun Xi to a vibrant market in Shu.
Yun Xi was captivated by human commerce, observing how people used "silver" for equal exchange, leading to an orderly and prosperous life. She found this concept "interesting." Inspired, Yun Xi proposed that the Spirit Clan should adopt a similar market system to foster equality among themselves, suggesting the name "Mysterious Market." Lu Yan approved the name. He then showed her his soldiers distributing porridge to the common folk, highlighting the deep bond between the Shu military and its people.
Yun Xi contrasted this with the Spirit Clan, where the strong preyed on the weak, observing that Lu Yan possessed a rare compassion, a quality absent among her people. As they continued their journey, Lu Yan explained various forms of relationships, starting with familial love, where parents and children mutually protect each other, ensuring "life flourishes endlessly." He then spoke of romantic love, describing it as a profound connection that could inspire individuals to sacrifice their lives for one another. Yun Xi was astonished by the power he attributed to such love and asked if Lu Yan himself had ever experienced it.
Episode 13 Recap
Lu Yan took Yun Xi to a bustling restaurant, inviting her to experience human cuisine. There, Yun Xi tasted glutinous rice cakes for the very first time. Earlier, she had pondered the profound concept of love between men and women, where individuals might sacrifice their lives for another, a feeling Lu Yan admitted he hadn't experienced. He had deflected her curiosity about trying it by suggesting they eat.
Yun Xi was surprised to learn that humans would spend so much effort preparing simple grains, but Lu Yan explained that food wasn't just for sustenance; it was about eating well to find happiness. He even helped her with the unfamiliar chopsticks, feeding her a hot glutinous rice cake, which she found surprisingly delicious and unlike raw grain.
This experience opened her eyes to the many flavors of the human world, a stark contrast to the Spirit Clan's disregard for culinary pleasure. Lu Yan shared his belief that the Spirit Clan should not be consumed solely by violence. He saw Jiuzhou as a vibrant land, much of its beauty tragically obscured by endless wars.
Yun Xi explained that the Spirit Clan perceived Jiuzhou's vastness as a facade, masking scarce and dwindling resources, forcing them into a cycle of seizing food for survival. However, Lu Yan was confident that the Spirit Clan could learn the human wisdom of continuous food production. They both agreed to dedicate themselves to achieving peaceful coexistence between their peoples.
Lu Yan then asked Yun Xi to call him by his given name, and she reciprocated, marking the beginning of their friendship. Yun Xi even playfully fed Lu Yan a glutinous rice cake, a gesture of their newfound camaraderie. As night fell and a light rain began, a runaway carriage careened through the street, threatening to crash into a mother and child. Without hesitation, Yun Xi instinctively used her energy to push the carriage away, saving them.
However, a man who witnessed her use of energy immediately cried out, recognizing a Spirit Clan member. Soon, an angry crowd, inflamed by the man's grief over his son being killed by the Spirit Clan, began chasing Yun Xi and Lu Yan. Lu Yan quickly pulled Yun Xi into an alley, explaining that his identity as a general would only complicate matters further, and he refused to use his authority to suppress the people.
Despite the danger, Yun Xi felt an unexpected thrill from being chased, apologizing for causing trouble. She mused about a world where energy could be used for healing rather than harm, a sentiment Lu Yan echoed, noting that the nature of a weapon lies with its user, and hoping a truce was imminent. Later, standing on a mountain cliff, Yun Xi felt a profound connection to her distant home.
She pointed to a dim star, revealing it to be her birthplace. She conjured an image of her home in the night sky, a barren wasteland since her birth. Her father had once spoken of a time when it was as beautiful and abundant as Jiuzhou. But as resources dwindled, selfishness festered, leading to devastating tribal wars. Their energy exhausted, many died, while others became emaciated.
It was the sun that had guided them to Jiuzhou, where they discovered new life. Yun Xi expressed remorse for the suffering her people had inflicted on humanity. Lu Yan reassured her, promising his help in teaching the Spirit Clan sustainable ways, so that peace could one day prevail. Lu Yan then blindfolded Yun Xi and led her to a secluded courtyard he had created, filled with an array of flowers and plants.
He explained that he created it after seeing the barrenness of her homeland, hoping to offer her a different, more vibrant experience. Yun Xi was touched by his thoughtfulness, asking how he knew her preferences. Lu Yan envisioned a peaceful future for them there, watching sunrises and sunsets, enjoying nature, and living a carefree life. He offered her another freshly made glutinous rice cake. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Yun Xi embraced Lu Yan, feeling his heart race alongside hers.
She wondered if this strange sensation was the "love" he had described earlier, expressing her desire to live in the courtyard and learn to make glutinous rice cakes once lasting peace was achieved. Their tender moment was interrupted by Wei Du, Lu Yan's subordinate, who reported that Zhu Rong had mobilized another Spirit Clan army, advancing towards Bei Du. Wei Du, openly disgruntled by Lu Yan's close relationship with Yun Xi, accused her of controlling him with her energy.
He recounted the many human soldiers lost to the Spirit Clan and the wounds Lu Yan himself bore, questioning his general's kindness towards a Spirit Clan member and even suggesting Yun Xi was a spy. Lu Yan firmly rebuked him, asserting his trust in Yun Xi and dismissing the idea of using a person as a hostage, which he considered a treacherous act. He believed Yun Xi could be the key to peace.
Though chastised, Wei Du remained unconvinced, fearing Lu Yan was being deceived. Yun Xi realized the urgency of stopping the war. She knew that returning alone would put her in danger from Zhu Rong. When Lu Yan offered to accompany her to show sincerity, she declined, worried it would lead to misunderstandings among his people and endanger him.
Before leaving, she gave Lu Yan a hairpin crafted from ancient sacred wood, explaining that it would allow them to sense each other's safety across vast distances, as it resonated with her energy. Then, for Lu Yan's protection, she deliberately knocked him unconscious, intending to face the Spirit Clan alone. Lu Yan awoke to the news that Zhu Rong's army was only a day away from Bei Du.
He ordered his troops to prepare for battle but to hold their positions. His subordinates, including Wei Du, questioned his seemingly reckless decision to wait, suspecting he was still hoping for news from Yun Xi, who hadn't sent any message since her departure. However, Lu Yan knew better. Sensing the hairpin's abnormal activity, he realized Yun Xi was in grave danger and deduced that the Spirit Clan's paused advance was connected to her.
Leading his forces, Lu Yan ambushed the Spirit Clan, overhearing them discuss Yun Xi's perceived betrayal and their chief's new plan for power, which no longer required the Saintess. They were instructed to poison her with a "blood toxin." Lu Yan fought through the ranks and rescued Yun Xi, who was trapped in a coffin. As they fled, pursued by the Spirit Clan, Wei Du was captured and held hostage.
The Spirit Clan offered to spare Lu Yan's life if he surrendered Yun Xi. Lu Yan defiantly refused, declaring that Yun Xi would never align with the tyrannical Zhu Rong. Wei Du and the remaining soldiers, facing certain death, echoed their general's resolve, choosing death over surrender. Yun Xi, wounded and weakened by the blood toxin, attempted to reason with her former kin, offering forgiveness if they released the humans.
However, the Spirit Clan, aware of her compromised energy, intensified their attack. Lu Yan, in a desperate attempt to protect his people, ordered an attack, but was tragically struck in the chest by an arrow. In the ensuing chaos, Yun Xi frantically tried to use her energy to heal Lu Yan. Just then, Wei Du, regaining consciousness, saw his general gravely wounded and, consumed by grief and fury, blamed Yun Xi for the disaster.
He attacked her, crying out that all Spirit Clan members deserved to die. Yun Xi managed to deflect his blow and, cradling Lu Yan's lifeless body, used her remaining energy to escape to a desolate, snow-laden bamboo forest. There, as she desperately pleaded for him to awaken, a profound realization dawned upon her. Recalling Lu Yan's lessons on human emotions and how he had made her feel truly alive, Yun Xi decided to extract her Energy Core.
With a final, sorrowful gaze, she expressed her wish for him to live, to carry her spirit, to explore Jiuzhou, and to ultimately witness the day of peace between humans and the Spirit Clan. As she spoke, she pulled out the hairpin, preparing for the ultimate sacrifice.
Episode 14 Recap
If only one of them could live, Yun Xi chose for that person to be Lu Yan. She wanted him to carry her Energy Core across the Nine Continents, to witness the day when humans and the Spirit Clan would coexist in peace. With her hairpin, Yun Xi extracted her own Energy Core and injected it into Lu Yan's chest.
Using her last breath, she summoned Xin, instructing him to take Lu Yan away and to regard Lu Yan as his new master from that moment on. She also entrusted the hairpin to Xin for Lu Yan. After seeing Xin successfully depart with Lu Yan, Yun Xi slowly leaned against a bamboo branch. In that moment, she realized the profound nature of human love—a willingness to die for the living.
Yun Xi passed away with a serene smile, leaving behind only a golden spiritual feather. Upon waking, Lu Yan was informed by Xin of Yun Xi's sacrifice. He discovered that all that remained of her was the spiritual feather. Xin then revealed a Spirit Clan legend: if a person possessing an Energy Core sealed themselves within a mountain containing a lake, the core's power could nourish scattered spirit fragments, allowing the spirit to reunite after three millennia.
Though this method caused immense harm to the one holding the Energy Core and was merely a legend, Lu Yan, seeing even a faint possibility, resolved to try. He placed Yun Xi's spiritual feather on Qingquan Mountain and sealed himself within the mountain. Later, Lu Yan shared his and Yun Xi’s story with Dengdeng. Hearing of Yun Xi’s deep affection and righteousness, Dengdeng felt a sense of admiration, her initial fear subsiding. Unexpectedly, Lu Yan then immobilized her.
He had obtained the latter half of the "Collection of Thousands of years’ Knowledge," a powerful tome, and intended to use it to uncover whether Dengdeng was truly Yun Xi. With a gesture, he conjured visions in the air. The images depicted a spiritual feather transforming into a little girl. A Yu family couple, passing by, discovered her.
The husband was cautious, recognizing her as a Spirit Clan member, but his wife, seeing that the girl was the same age as their deceased daughter, decided to take her home and raise her as their own, concealing her true identity with energy. Dengdeng watched in shock, unable to comprehend the sight of two versions of herself. Unnoticed, the hairpin in her hair began to glow, and a distinct mark appeared on her forehead.
Overwhelmed, Lu Yan's Energy Core pulsed, and a smile spread across his face. After three thousand years, he had finally found and rescued Yun Xi. Dengdeng, however, refused to accept that she was Yun Xi, finding the memories of the Saintess distant and unfamiliar. She pushed Lu Yan away, insisting on leaving, and returned the hairpin to him.
Lu Yan explained that the hairpin was Yun Xi's, imbued with energy, and that Yun Xi had used it to extract her Energy Core. He added that it could easily take his life, and if Dengdeng ever perceived him as a threat, she could use the hairpin to harm him. Dengdeng was confused, wondering why he had so casually given her such a crucial item before.
Lu Yan clarified that at the time, his urgency to save her life had been paramount, and perhaps it was destiny for the item to return to its rightful owner. Dengdeng, feeling shy, averted her gaze, pretending not to believe him. To prove his words, Lu Yan used the hairpin to cut his own hand. Dengdeng knew that his wounds normally healed instantly, yet this cut remained open, refusing to close.
After contemplating the implications, Dengdeng decided to accept the hairpin. Lu Yan further explained that the hairpin had another use: she could call out to him using it, and he would hear her and instantly appear by her side. Dengdeng, impressed, remarked that it was more effective than a wireless telephone. Dengdeng agreed to keep it, intending to use it for protection against other Spirit Clan members, should the need arise.
Meanwhile, Zhu Rong received a report from his subordinate about Lu Yan's formidable energy during their escape from the Mysterious Market. The subordinate also noted that Yu Dengdeng's energy signature bore a striking resemblance to that of Saintess Yun Xi. Zhu Rong quickly deduced that Dengdeng was indeed Yun Xi reincarnated. His understanding of Lu Yan's persistent efforts now made sense. Consequently, Zhu Rong began laying traps in Yingdu, preparing to test Dengdeng.
Lu Yan and Dengdeng returned to the Rose Hotel with the Wuxiang Pills, which they used to revive the unconscious guests. Dahai and Gu Beixi also arrived. The group questioned Daidai, the young innkeeper, who tearfully explained that her parents and the parents of many other children had mysteriously disappeared in Yingdu. To gather enough money to travel to Yingdu and seek help from the police station, they had resorted to running a "black market inn."
Moved by her plight, Dengdeng promised Daidai that she would help investigate the whereabouts of their missing relatives. The group finally reached Yingdu. Lu Yan honored his promise to Dengdeng, maintaining a distance from her and providing protection from afar. That night, holding the hairpin, Dengdeng's mind raced with doubts about whether she truly was the Saintess.
Dahai, amused by the idea, openly expressed his disbelief, making a humorous comparison that a Saintess was like a "heavenly cloud" while Dengdeng was like "a fertile field." Although Dahai had promised to keep her secret, Gu Beixi inexplicably learned of it the following day, likely from Dahai talking in his sleep. Later, while resting in a forest, Dengdeng idly wished for rain, and a sudden downpour promptly began. Coincidentally, they discovered umbrellas in the desolate woods.
Lu Yan's distant figure appeared, standing in the rain. Dengdeng was filled with a mix of complex emotions, and Gu Beixi, observing the situation, also appeared unsettled. Dengdeng internally debated whether to offer Lu Yan an umbrella, but ultimately decided against breaking their agreement. Gu Beixi then offered to take an umbrella to Lu Yan, but Dengdeng quickly stopped him.
Episode 15 Recap
Yu Dengdeng knew her father, Paralyzed Yu, desperately wanted the "Collection of Thousands of Years’ Knowledge," so she obtained it from Lu Yan and set up a street stall in Yingdu with Dahai, hoping to draw him out. Even if he wasn't in the city, the news would eventually spread. Gu Beixi, who had already secured their lodging, offered his booming voice to attract a crowd. Despite their efforts, not a single book sold all day.
Instead, they attracted the attention of the police. The trio worked together, pelting the officers with books before scattering. Dengdeng darted into an alley, believing she had escaped, but a masked man, Zhu Rong, appeared behind her. He took a deep breath, recognizing her as Yun Xi. Dengdeng, mistaking him for a thug, pulled out a dagger, warning him to leave. However, she soon realized he possessed magical abilities and was immobilized. Just then, Lu Yan arrived, saving Dengdeng.
He realized this masked figure was responsible for poisoning Qingquan Stronghold and absorbing human Essence. As rain began to fall, Lu Yan walked Dengdeng back to her inn, sharing an umbrella. At the entrance, he handed her the umbrella and bid her farewell. Dengdeng, momentarily speechless, called him back. She acknowledged their past grievances but expressed gratitude for his rescue that day. Blushing, she quickly entered the inn.
Lu Yan stood stunned for a moment before a joyful smile spread across his face, his departing figure almost skipping with delight. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi was furious to see Lu Yan in Dengdeng's room. He accused Lu Yan of being a "monster" who tricked girls by putting on a show of heroism to win them over, and warned Dengdeng not to be soft-hearted, reminding her that Lu Yan had previously tried to kill her.
Dahai intervened, redirecting the conversation back to finding Dengdeng’s father. Dahai planned to check all the gambling dens and mahjong parlors, suspecting Paralyzed Yu might be gambling. Gu Beixi offered to keep an eye on Dengdeng, fearing she might be misled by Lu Yan again. Lu Yan and Xin discussed the masked attacker.
Lu Yan noted that three thousand years ago, Zhu Rong had used golden butterflies to create illusions, allowing him to vanish and reappear, and the masked man had employed the same trick. Xin questioned how Zhu Rong could be alive, having seemingly died at Lu Yan's hands. Lu Yan speculated it could be an imitation or a Spirit Clan member connected to Zhu Rong, but his energy scan of Yingdu revealed no trace of Zhu Rong.
Nevertheless, Lu Yan decided to investigate, as Dengdeng's safety was compromised. He instructed Xin to gather all available Spirit Clan members in Yingdu, selecting those with strong Essence and good character to protect Dengdeng. Xin, however, reported that many Spirit Clan members had mysteriously disappeared over the past two months, making it difficult to assemble a large number.
Unbeknownst to them, Zhu Rong, observing from afar, gloated, confirming he was indeed the masked man and vowing to make Lu Yan surrender his energy core, just as he had killed Yun Xi three millennia ago. To track down Paralyzed Yu, Gu Beixi, accompanied by Dahai, infiltrated Yingdu's underworld, seeking information from the "Pa Menzi," local informants. He cleverly claimed kinship with well-known figures to gain their trust.
After they denied seeing anyone matching Paralyzed Yu’s description, citing increased police patrols, one of the men insisted Dahai drink with them. Dahai, wary, initially refused, but Gu Beixi urged him to comply to maintain their cover. After one sip, Dahai realized he was about to transform and hastily fled into an alley. There, he spotted two jars labeled "Sober-up Soup" and rushed towards them, colliding with a man.
The man, seeing Dahai's striking appearance in his female form, made a lewd comment, provoking Dahai to smash a jar over his head. Gu Beixi soon caught up, recognizing Dahai despite his female form. After Dahai consumed the sobering-up soup and reverted to his male form, he confessed everything. Gu Beixi checked the unconscious man, confirming he wasn't severely injured but then realized he was a police captain.
Just as the captain stirred awake and recognized them, Gu Beixi delivered another punch, knocking him out again. Back at the inn, Dahai found Dengdeng sketching Lu Yan and teased her about rekindling their old flames. Dengdeng vehemently denied it, writing insults like "Despicable and shameless Lu Huo Huo" and "Insidious and cunning old monster" on the drawing, then crumpled it and threw it out the window.
Chang, picking up the paper, showed it to Lu Yan, who, instead of being angry, smiled, recognizing Dengdeng's handwriting and artistic style. That night, Lu Yan silently entered Dengdeng's room. He found her trapped in a nightmare, calling for her father, and gently used his powers to soothe her brow, ensuring she would sleep peacefully. As he left, he noticed the numerous other notes plastered around her room, all detailing Lu Yan's "crimes."
The next morning, Dahai playfully woke Dengdeng, laughing at her face, which had been mischievously drawn on overnight. Dengdeng, unaware of the prankster, was puzzled. They discussed a police notice about recent unregistered entrants, realizing that if Paralyzed Yu had entered Yingdu during that period, records would be at the police station.
Gu Beixi, having failed to directly enter the Bai Mansion (home to Chief Bai, his former betrothed's father) by posing as a messenger or a son-in-law, suggested a new strategy. Xin, observing their discussions, reported their new plan to Lu Yan: they intended to stage a "hero saves the beauty" scenario. Dahai and Gu Beixi would pretend to be bandits, hijacking a carriage carrying Bai Shiqi, Chief Bai’s daughter, and her aunt, as they traveled to burn incense.
Dengdeng would then dramatically rescue them, earning Chief Bai's gratitude and an invitation to the mansion. Lu Yan, already aware of their scheme, instructed Xin to continue monitoring them. Xin expressed concern, offering to protect Dengdeng himself, but Lu Yan reassured him he would sense any danger to her. Lu Yan then showed Xin a spiritual butterfly, asking him to identify its aura.
Xin confirmed it was from Zhu Rong's subordinate, who was alive despite being presumed dead three thousand years ago with Zhu Rong. As planned, Dahai and Gu Beixi, disguised as rough bandits, accosted Bai Shiqi and her aunt’s carriage. Gu Beixi, posing as the leader, declared Shuangming Mountain their territory and demanded money. Bai Shiqi calmly instructed her attendants to hand over their valuables, displaying remarkable courage even when Gu Beixi threatened to kill them.
She boldly defied him, stating she was unafraid, being the police chief's daughter. Dahai worried that Gu Beixi was taking the act too seriously by conversing with Bai Shiqi instead of letting Dengdeng make her grand entrance. Dengdeng then swooped in, dramatically confronting the "bandits." During the staged fight, Dahai humorously complained that Dengdeng was "really hard" on him, calling her performance "too pompous" and accusing her of "almost killing" him.
Dengdeng successfully "defeated" the bandits, making them "confess" their wrongdoing. Bai Shiqi, though impressed, shrewdly suggested sending the captured "bandits" directly to the police station to prevent future trouble. Dengdeng agreed, realizing it served their goal of entering the Bai Mansion. Gu Beixi, tied with a loose knot by Dengdeng, reassured Dahai that their "capture" was part of the plan. As the carriage prepared to depart for the city, a spiritual butterfly suddenly appeared, startling the horses, which bolted forward uncontrollably.
Episode 16 Recap
An agent of Zhu Rong conjured a golden butterfly, causing the horse pulling Bai Shiqi's carriage to become startled and bolt uncontrollably towards a cliff. Gu Beixi, who had been restrained, quickly broke free from his bonds and raced towards the runaway carriage. He managed to grab the reins, but the horse continued its frenzied charge. With no other option, Gu Beixi opened the carriage door and pulled Bai Shiqi out.
They tumbled to the ground, and as their eyes met, a spark of unexpected emotion ignited between them. Bai Shiqi was visibly surprised when she heard his name, Gu Beixi. Before leaving, he cautioned her against revealing anything about the incident. Her maidservants soon caught up, relieved she was unharmed, and at Bai Shiqi's urging, they turned their attention to the last concubine. Meanwhile, Dahai and Dengdeng, who were driving the last concubine's carriage, finally brought their horse under control.
They realized something was amiss when they heard no sounds from behind them. Upon inspection, they found the carriage empty, save for a cat. Back at the Bai mansion, Chief Bai erupted in anger upon learning of the robbery and his last concubine's disappearance. He immediately ordered his men to find the culprits. A police captain, seeing the initial vague sketch of the robbers, recognized them as the man and woman who had assaulted him in an alley earlier.
He angrily demanded a more detailed portrait be drawn, vowing to track down Gu Beixi and Dahai. Lu Yan, observing the situation, identified the culprit behind the horse's fright as an illusory spirit. He speculated that this same spirit might be connected to the recent string of missing persons cases in Yingdu. That night, a thick fog descended, and numerous phantom soldiers, bearing wounds, appeared before Lu Yan, pleading for help. He shook his head, then effortlessly dispelled these illusions.
To locate the true illusory spirit undisturbed, Lu Yan cast a protective barrier. He eventually cornered the spirit, who, upon being confronted by Lu Yan, committed suicide rather than reveal any information. Lu Yan attempted to extract her memories, but her spirit fought back, injuring his vital energy. Ah Xin, his assistant, reminded him that attempting to extract memories in such a way often leads to a backlash from the host and advised against doing so in the future.
Ah Xin also informed Lu Yan that Gu Beixi and his companion were now wanted for the missing persons cases. The police quickly traced Gu Beixi, Dahai, and Dengdeng to their inn. Though they narrowly escaped the raid, the innkeeper was interrogated, and the police now had a description of Dengdeng, issuing a wanted poster for her as well. Hiding in a secluded spot, Dengdeng and Dahai reviewed the day's events, puzzled by the last concubine's mysterious disappearance.
They noted fresh whip marks on the horses, suggesting a spirit clan's involvement, and Dengdeng suspected Lu Yan of interfering again. She decided that going to the police station was now too risky, especially since Chief Bai had moved all the missing persons case files to his mansion. Dengdeng devised a plan to infiltrate the Bai mansion.
Before carrying it out, she confronted Lu Yan, accusing him of sending a spirit to cause trouble and of being involved in the last concubine's disappearance. Despite his denials and a warning about the dangers she faced, Dengdeng sternly told him to stay out of her affairs. Following her plan, Dengdeng and Dahai, disguised as servants, infiltrated the Bai mansion.
After examining the strange case files for clues about her father, they were spotted by the police captain as they were leaving. The two split up to escape. Dengdeng successfully shook off her pursuers, and while hiding in an alley, discovered vicious claw marks that led her to a pig. Bai Shiqi, having been saved by Gu Beixi, found herself preoccupied with thoughts of him. Further stirring her emotions was the discovery that they had been betrothed as children.
Her maid then pointed out that Gu Beixi's portrait bore a striking resemblance to the masked robber, whose full face had been seen by the police. Troubled by this, Bai Shiqi immediately ordered her carriage. She soon encountered Officer Zhang questioning Gu Beixi. Intervening, Bai Shiqi claimed Gu Beixi was her classmate from the provincial capital, convincing the officer to let him go. After the officer left, Gu Beixi expressed gratitude but asked her why she helped him.
Bai Shiqi stated it was to repay him for saving her life. She then pressed him for his name, to which he reluctantly replied, "Gu Beixi," reiterating his desire for her to keep his identity a secret. Meanwhile, Dahai, still in his female form, ordered a coffee at a cafe and fell asleep.
After waking up, he had reverted to his male self, a change noticed by the shop owner who recognized him from a wanted poster and immediately called the police. Dahai was arrested. Dengdeng, anxiously waiting for Dahai, grew increasingly worried. She left a message for him via her hairpin, also reflecting on her harsh words to Lu Yan, acknowledging he had indeed saved her. When she witnessed Dahai being publicly shamed and beaten by an angry crowd, her resolve hardened.
She decided to turn herself in to save Dahai. Her strategy was to gamble on Chief Bai's desperation to solve the disappearances by presenting herself as a spirit-hunter who could solve the cases. As a backup, she sent a message through her hairpin to Lu Yan, requesting his assistance if her plan failed, promising a tenfold repayment. Meanwhile, Chief Bai savagely interrogated the bruised and battered Dahai.
Despite knowing that Dahai, a newcomer, was unlikely to be involved in the missing persons cases, Chief Bai was under immense pressure from his superiors and desperately needed a scapegoat. He tried to force Dahai to sign a confession implicating him in all the kidnappings, including the last concubine's disappearance, and demanded he reveal his accomplices. Just as Chief Bai pushed the confession forward, Dengdeng dramatically arrived at the police station.
She confronted Chief Bai, deliberately provoking him to gain his attention. She then declared that she wasn't there to surrender but to help him, boldly asserting that the Spirit Clan existed in Yingdu and that she and Dahai were specialized spirit-hunters. She explained that she had intercepted his family's carriage because she foresaw a spirit attack, and that her intervention had saved his family from a greater tragedy. Chief Bai, however, remained skeptical.
Episode 17 Recap
Dengdeng, still confined in handcuffs, swiftly unlocks them with a silver needle. As the police recoil in fear, believing she has used magic, she holds up her hairpin and silently calls upon Lu Yan for assistance. Objects on the table begin to float in the air, sending Chief Bai scrambling behind his officers.
Dengdeng then boldly addresses Chief Bai, claiming she had intervened to stop the Spirit Clan from harming the Bai family, asserting that without her, their home would have been "filled with white bones." Unconvinced, Chief Bai dismisses her story as fanciful. Dengdeng proposes a deal: she will take on the task of solving the city's missing persons cases and confronting the Spirit Clan, asking for no credit if successful, but accepting full responsibility if she fails.
Initially skeptical and dismissive of her youth, Chief Bai is persuaded by one of his officers, who suggests that Dengdeng could be an asset in solving the elusive cases and gaining favor with the County Magistrate. Relenting, Chief Bai orders his men to lower their weapons, acknowledging Dengdeng as a "heroine" and "a woman who is not inferior to any man."
He agrees to her terms but insists on a seven-day deadline for her to solve the case, promising to release Dahai afterward. He then invites her to stay at the Bai Mansion, a gesture Dengdeng recognizes as a thinly veiled attempt to keep her under surveillance. She accepts, but not before demanding that Dahai be treated well, free from torture, and provided with good food, including roast chickens.
When Dahai feigns an injury, Chief Bai promptly complies, and Dengdeng offers Dahai some of his favorite pastries. Later, as Dengdeng rides in the carriage, she calls out to Lu Yan. He suddenly appears, startling her. She asks him how he managed to help her at the police station. Lu Yan explains that she is the reunited spirit of Yun Xi, nurtured by his Energy Core for many years, and therefore possesses intrinsic "energy".
He demonstrates by gently touching her hand, causing her energy to visibly manifest. Amazed, Dengdeng eagerly requests further instruction. However, Lu Yan reminds her of her own rule: "one help, ten times repayment." He hints that he will consider teaching her more once she has paid him for his assistance that day, then disappears. Dengdeng, frustrated, mutters about his "petty" nature. Upon her arrival at the Bai Mansion, Dengdeng notes the extensive security, realizing she is effectively a prisoner.
She muses that even with wings, it would be "hard to fly out." That night, she again uses her hairpin to speak with Lu Yan, thanking him for his help at the police station and forgiving him for previously tracking her. Reiterating her "one help, ten times repayment" rule, she asks what reward he desires. Lu Yan responds, "I want to see you."
When she casually suggests he can do so anytime, he clarifies, "I want to see you ten times." Flustered, Dengdeng deems him "improper" and quickly puts the hairpin away, wondering why he has become "so proactive." Meanwhile, a maid finds an accessory in the yard and gives it to Bai Shiqi, who recognizes it as Gu Beixi's. The maid also mentions Dengdeng's arrival in the heavily guarded Western Garden.
Bai Shiqi then visits her father, Chief Bai, offering him mung bean soup and subtly inquiring about Gu Beixi. Chief Bai confirms he gave Dengdeng a chance to prove herself. He then scolds Bai Shiqi for meeting a male classmate and reminds her of her childhood engagement to Gu Beixi from Nanfeng Stronghold, stressing the importance of upholding their family's honor and how he's been sending "wedding urging letters" to the Gu family.
Relieved by her father's approval of the marriage, Bai Shiqi asks how he would treat Gu Beixi if he were to arrive in Yingdu. Chief Bai playfully threatens to "beat him" for his past unresponsiveness but ultimately declares he would ensure Gu Beixi treats his daughter well. Inspired, Bai Shiqi dresses elaborately, telling her maid she hopes to "meet the person you want to see." She then secretly leaves to meet Gu Beixi.
However, she is ambushed by a group of criminals who harbor an old vendetta against Chief Bai for interfering with one of their weddings. Gu Beixi arrives just in time to rescue her. As police officers approach, Bai Shiqi insists on fleeing with Gu Beixi. After they successfully escape, she thanks him for saving her.
Gu Beixi informs her that Dengdeng is his friend, currently living at the Bai Mansion, and asks Bai Shiqi to look after her, expressing concern for Dengdeng's safety. He openly admits his deep affection for Dengdeng, stating, "She's the one I like. . . she will be my woman sooner or later." A conflicted Bai Shiqi reminds him of his fiancée.
Gu Beixi confirms he has one but intends to break off the engagement, emphasizing that true marriage must be based on love; otherwise, it would be akin to "being buried alive." Though uneasy, Bai Shiqi agrees to care for Dengdeng but warns Gu Beixi that she will not tolerate any actions that could harm the Bai Mansion. Gu Beixi reassures her that their shared goal is to investigate the city's missing persons cases.
Elsewhere, Lu Yan forcibly extracts a memory from a dying illusory spirit, revealing that Zhu Rong is still alive and plans to capture Dengdeng, the incarnation of Saintess Yun Xi, to retrieve the Energy Core. Realizing Dengdeng is in extreme danger, Lu Yan confronts Gu Beixi. He explains Dengdeng's efforts to free Dahai and urges Gu Beixi to avoid further risks.
He tells Gu Beixi to "get out of town soon" and let him handle the city's complex Spirit Clan-related issues. Gu Beixi, however, dismisses Lu Yan as a "malicious monster" and questions his right to interfere. Lu Yan reveals that the disappearances are indeed linked to the Spirit Clan and that a Spirit Clan member is targeting Dengdeng's life.
He offers to resolve all of Gu Beixi's problems, including the false accusations in the missing persons case and the search for his father, if Gu Beixi would leave. Gu Beixi, confident in his "own ways," refuses, defiantly stating, "We'll see who ends up standing next to Yu Dengdeng." Dengdeng begins her investigation by visiting the homes of the disappeared.
At the bun shop owner Cao Dafa's residence, she notes the sealed windows and the discarded clothes, ruling out escape or kidnapping. She identifies a goose in the courtyard as Cao Dafa, and later a "big fat pig with black ears" from another alley, ordering both animals to be brought back to her courtyard, declaring them her "victims." She confidently asserts her skill at solving cases.
Back at the Bai Mansion, a maid informs Dengdeng that her "husband" has arrived with new bedding, a gesture from Bai Shiqi. Dengdeng, confused and momentarily thinking of the Rooster, denies having a husband. To her surprise, Lu Yan walks into the room. The maid, misinterpreting the situation, leaves them for their "reunion." Lu Yan explains that the masked man who attacked her in the Mysterious Market, Zhu Rong, now knows her true identity.
Since she refused his guards, he intends to provide "all-day protection" himself. Dengdeng resists, asserting her capabilities as the "Chief of Qingquan Stronghold," equipped with kung fu, weapons, and Lu Yan's hairpin. She tells him he doesn't need to "stick with me all the time." Lu Yan insists "everything must be on my terms."
Dengdeng calls him "unreasonable" and questions their supposed "marriage," but Lu Yan retorts that she didn't consider his "honor and chastity" when she brought him to Qingquan Stronghold. When she attempts to physically make him leave, he threatens that her magical abilities, which rely on his assistance, might "not work so well" next time. Dengdeng, trying to use a past tactic where he avoided her touch, reaches for his hand, but he unexpectedly pulls her onto the bed.
Startled, she quickly agrees to let him stay "as long as you want." Lu Yan then declares that "a gentleman doesn't seek advantage," and agrees to let her sleep in the bed while he takes the floor. Privately, Dengdeng chides herself for her "uselessness" and wonders if Lu Yan's powers have grown.
Lu Yan clarifies that the animals Dengdeng brought back are, in fact, low-energy Spirit Clan members who have taken on the attributes of various species and cannot revert to their human or Spirit Clan forms. Dengdeng wonders if the last concubine is also a Spirit Clan member and if Chief Bai is aware. Lu Yan explains that while inter-species marriages are common, few Spirit Clan members openly reveal their identities due to their status as "aliens."
Dengdeng expresses sympathy for their predicament and questions the cause of their transformation. Lu Yan then reveals that traces of "energy" were found in the last concubine's carriage, suggesting her disappearance was not due to an external attack but rather "some kind of change has occurred from the inside." They decide to search the last concubine's room for clues, specifically looking for items that Spirit Clan members might avoid.
Episode 18 Recap
Dengdeng aimed to investigate the last concubine's belongings to understand her daily life. Lu Yan suggested asking those close to her. Before he finished, several elegant women surrounded him, claiming to be the closest to the last concubine and eager to offer their help and even prepare food for the handsome exorcist. These were Chief Bai's other concubines, who soon began bickering amongst themselves, competing for Lu Yan's attention.
Frustrated by the commotion, Dengdeng decided to investigate on her own and stepped out of the room. Outside, Dengdeng met Bai Shiqi, who had been waiting for her. Bai Shiqi apologized for their previous encounter on the mountain road, explaining it was a misunderstanding while seeking her father's help. She mentioned that Gu Beixi had spoken to her, identifying Dengdeng as his friend and asking her to assist Dengdeng in the mansion.
Dengdeng, putting pieces together, quickly realized Bai Shiqi was Gu Beixi's fiancée. Dengdeng praised Bai Shiqi's beauty, suggesting Gu Beixi was not worthy of her. Bai Shiqi confessed her sadness that Gu Beixi seemed unwilling to marry her, and Dengdeng comforted her, calling Gu Beixi an unappreciative "stinky guy." Bai Shiqi then inquired if Lu Yan, who had arrived the previous day, was Dengdeng's husband.
Dengdeng sighed, referring to their connection as a "doomed love," and jokingly called him her "second husband," emphasizing that he was there solely to investigate the case. Dengdeng also cautioned Bai Shiqi that Chief Bai was unaware of his prospective son-in-law's wanted status, which could lead to complications. Bai Shiqi promised to protect Gu Beixi and assist Dengdeng in her investigation, and the two women quickly bonded over their shared, straightforward natures.
Meanwhile, back in their room, a servant was moving a bed for Lu Yan into Dengdeng's room, explaining that Lu Yan would never allow Dengdeng to sleep on the floor. Dengdeng, still upset by Lu Yan's apparent popularity with the other concubines, grew increasingly annoyed. She grumbled about Lu Yan being a "fickle playboy" who "flirts with various women" and "chops and changes so often."
To vent her frustration, she went to the courtyard and began practicing her "ground-rolling monster-catching kungfu" on a sandbag, specifically targeting "fickle playboys." When Lu Yan appeared, Dengdeng challenged him. He easily subdued her using his spiritual abilities, binding her with a bedsheet. He then offered to teach her the Spirit Clan's skills if she would "behave." Dengdeng, prioritizing the investigation, agreed.
Soon after, an officer delivered a message from Chief Bai: Dengdeng had a new partner and only five days to solve the case. Later, Gu Beixi found Bai Shiqi, feeling awkward after learning her true identity. Bai Shiqi explained that she had withheld it because she wanted to continue seeing him and correctly pointed out his feelings for Dengdeng.
She then candidly reflected on their situations: "You like Ms. Yu, but she has no idea at all, and she has her own husband. Me? I like you, but you know nothing at all, either. And you have an interest in another girl, too." Despite the emotional entanglement, Bai Shiqi echoed Gu Beixi's earlier sentiment, expressing her own desire to spend her life with the one she loved.
She warned him to be cautious in the Bai Mansion, as her father would not approve of his "little thoughts." Gu Beixi promised to clarify matters with Chief Bai once he had helped Dengdeng, but Bai Shiqi hinted she hoped he wouldn't rush to distance himself. With Bai Shiqi's help, Gu Beixi met Chief Bai. He immediately revealed his identity, hoping to win favor.
Chief Bai was astonished to discover that the wanted man he had been pursuing was Gu Beixi, the son of his old friend. Instead of anger, he chastised Gu Beixi's family for their lack of correspondence over the years. Gu Beixi, addressing him as "Father-in-law" (a term Chief Bai initially rejected), explained that local factions in Qingquan Town must have intercepted his letters.
Gu Beixi then committed to helping Dengdeng, asserting that the "soldier writ" also applied to him, and he would accept any punishment if they failed to solve the case. He then asked to meet Ms. Bai, the eldest daughter, only to be shocked to learn that Bai Shiqi, who had just led him in, was indeed his fiancée. This realization brought him embarrassment, recalling his earlier words to her. That night, the last concubine's calico cat suddenly appeared.
Lu Yan sensed a living entity within it and attempted to inject energy, but it yielded no response. He tried again, and a faint phantom of the last concubine materialized. She revealed that the missing people in Yingdu were all Spirit Clan members who had lost their energy and could only survive by possessing animals to communicate. She explained that a "spirit worm" from the Mysterious Market, which promised to enhance energy, had recently appeared.
Many Spirit Clan members eagerly consumed it. Initially, it boosted their energy, but soon their bodies weakened, their spiritual consciousness blurred, their energy dissipated, and their bodies became transparent until death. Only a few had learned to inhabit animal bodies. The last concubine confessed she took the worm to maintain her youthful appearance for Chief Bai, stating she bought it from a tavern in the Mysterious Market and did not know its source.
Lu Yan tried to expel the spirit worm but found it resistant; it only entered bodies, never left, and continuously absorbed energy. He worried about the spread of this unusual spirit worm, fearing for the future of the Spirit Clan. To help the possessed Spirit Clan members, Lu Yan created a barrier around the animals, which would slow the worm's consumption of their spiritual essence.
However, they could not leave the barrier for more than four hours without risking rapid demise. Inspired by Lu Yan's abilities, Dengdeng requested to learn his skills to help. Lu Yan agreed, explaining that Yun Xi's spiritual consciousness within her, combined with the nourishment from his energy core, gave her latent energy that she could learn to control. He patiently guided her, comparing the process to training dogs.
After several attempts, Dengdeng successfully manifested a small energy barrier, marveling at her newfound power. Feeling confident, Dengdeng proposed that she remain to care for the animals within the barrier while Lu Yan investigated the source of the spirit worms in the Mysterious Market. Though hesitant about her limited experience, Lu Yan agreed, reminding her to use the hairpin to call him if she needed help. Soon, Chief Bai arrived in the courtyard, furious at the sight of numerous animals.
He accused Dengdeng of gathering them to "cook them in his home" and ordered his men to remove them. Dengdeng frantically explained that the animals were crucial evidence and hosts for the missing Spirit Clan members, whose spiritual consciousness was being devoured by the spirit worms. She recounted how the worms caused their bodies to dissipate and forced them to possess animals.
She assured him that Lu Yan was investigating the source in the Mysterious Market and would soon have answers. Chief Bai, however, dismissed her story as "crap" and mocked her, insisting she was foolish to believe living people could turn into animals. Just as he renewed his order to discard the animals, the last concubine's cat cried out. Chief Bai, recognizing his concubine's beloved pet, ignored Dengdeng's warnings and picked up the cat.
Dengdeng urgently warned him that the cat would die if removed from the barrier. To prove her claims, Dengdeng, after dismissing the other officers, used her spiritual abilities to reveal the last concubine's phantom to Chief Bai, who was utterly terrified and fled. Later, Gu Beixi brought Dengdeng her favorite sticky rice cakes. They observed the Bai Mansion buzzing with preparations for Bai Shiqi's birthday, a fact Gu Beixi was completely unaware of.
Dengdeng advised him not to take Bai Shiqi for granted, especially after he reiterated his intention to break off their engagement. Meanwhile, Chief Bai was seen in the last concubine's room, looking at her portrait and recalling their sweet memories, revealing a surprisingly tender side despite his usual harsh demeanor. Back with Dengdeng, Lu Yan returned from the Mysterious Market with a masked and bound suspect he believed was responsible for the tavern owner's death.
Eager to confront the culprit, Dengdeng ripped off the suspect's hood, only to reveal it was her own father, the Former Chieftain, Paralyzed Yu. A chaotic scene ensued as Dengdeng and her father immediately began to argue. Paralyzed Yu furiously accused Lu Yan of kidnapping him and demanded Dengdeng break up with him, calling Lu Yan a "monster of the Spirit Clan."
Dengdeng, in turn, defended Lu Yan, declaring him "an ancient general from three thousand years ago" who "ate the energy core," asserting their perfect match and claiming her father had to accept the marriage because she had already spent all of Lu Yan's dowry. Gu Beixi attempted to calm Paralyzed Yu, addressing him as "Father-in-law" and tending to his injuries, while simultaneously fueling the argument by "inadvertently blurting out" that Lu Yan had almost killed Dengdeng.
Dengdeng quickly intervened, redirecting the conversation by asking her father why he was involved in the missing person cases. Paralyzed Yu then muttered that it was all because of "spirit worms."
Episode 19 Recap
Gu Beixi inadvertently disclosed to Chieftain Yu that Lu Yan had nearly killed Yu Dengdeng. Chieftain Yu, enraged, scolded Gu Beixi for speaking out of turn. Dengdeng quickly dismissed Gu Beixi's statement as nonsense, assuring her father that no such thing happened. Chieftain Yu then turned to Dengdeng, questioning her involvement in the missing persons case, stating, "It is the spirit worm's doing."
Lu Yan, recognizing Chieftain Yu's knowledge, appealed to him to share information to help clear Peng Dahai's name, who Chief Bai had accused of being the murderer of the missing members of the Spirit Clan and detained at the police station. Chieftain Yu, however, insisted he would only speak to his daughter and demanded Lu Yan leave the room.
Dengdeng apologized to Lu Yan for her father's temper, but Lu Yan calmly said he had overheard their conversation and was not upset. After Lu Yan left, Chieftain Yu began to recount the events. He told Dengdeng that three months prior, members of the Spirit Clan approached him for help regarding disappearances. Initially unconcerned, he soon noticed a growing number of people vanishing from the Mysterious Market and Yingdu, estimating over a hundred missing.
One day, he discovered a Spirit Clan member who had been completely consumed by spirit worms. The Spirit Clan member's body was extremely weak, almost transparent, and his energy was rapidly dissipating. Despite Chieftain Yu's best efforts, he couldn't prevent the energy from draining. Before vanishing entirely, the Spirit Clan member used his last breath to mention the Changle Tavern in the Mysterious Market.
Chieftain Yu concluded that these were not kidnappings but rather Spirit Clan members devoured by spirit worms. Following this lead, Chieftain Yu went to Changle Tavern to investigate. He quickly realized that while the tavern owner sold spirit worms, he lacked the capacity to breed such a large number. He feigned being a major buyer, requesting fifty worms, knowing this would force the owner to contact his supplier.
Chieftain Yu then staked out the tavern, waiting for the supplier to appear. He later observed the tavern closing, but a blue lantern was prominently displayed, which he deduced was their signal. While waiting, he felt an intense itch all over his body. He eventually spotted a suspicious figure and followed them back into the tavern. To his horror, he found the tavern owner dead inside.
As he pursued the killer, he was knocked unconscious, only vaguely recalling that the assailant wore a trench coat, similar to Lu Yan's. Dengdeng immediately defended Lu Yan, asserting he could not be the murderer. Lu Yan presented an account book from the tavern, pointing out that it only listed about a dozen transactions, far fewer than the hundred or more missing individuals Chieftain Yu mentioned.
This led him to believe that there were other shops in the Mysterious Market also dealing in spirit worms. He proposed that if the lanterns were indeed the signal for these illicit transactions, they should find a vantage point in the Mysterious Market that night to observe which shops lit lanterns after closing, allowing them to track down the suppliers and exonerate Peng Dahai.
Dengdeng then pressed Chieftain Yu about her true parentage, asking if she was his and her mother's biological daughter. Chieftain Yu initially reaffirmed that she was, but Dengdeng then manifested her spiritual energy, a trait exclusive to the Spirit Clan. Seeing this, Chieftain Yu finally confessed. He revealed that he and his late wife found Dengdeng as a solitary child at the foot of Qingquan Mountain.
Their own daughter had died young, so they adopted Dengdeng, raising her with great care. He admitted to keeping her true identity a secret all these years, hoping she could lead a peaceful, ordinary life. Dengdeng, deeply moved, embraced Chieftain Yu, assuring him that regardless of her lineage, she would always be his beloved daughter. Chieftain Yu accepted her words, visibly touched.
Dengdeng stated her intention to join the investigation, despite her father's protestations, explaining that as Lu Yan was her "concubine" and Peng Dahai her apprentice, she had to go personally. She invoked Chieftain Yu’s own wisdom: “Overcome one obstacle at a time, take one difficult step at a time.” Lu Yan reminded her to be cautious, unlike her previous recklessness.
As Dengdeng and Lu Yan prepared to leave, they encountered Lv Er and a group of armed Qingquan Stronghold members, including Daqian. Lv Er explained they had heard Dengdeng was detained at Bai Mansion and came to rescue her, despite their limited weaponry compared to Bai Mansion's significant arsenal. Dengdeng reassured them she was fine and had located her father.
She instructed Lv Er to go to Bai Mansion, contact Gu Beixi, and wait for them there with Chieftain Yu, sending the rest of the group back to the stronghold. Back at the Mysterious Market, Dengdeng and Lu Yan continued their surveillance with Xin. Dengdeng grew impatient when no lanterns appeared, questioning their initial hypothesis. Lu Yan instructed Xin to take a break.
Xin, observing Lu Yan and Dengdeng's synchronized movements and natural chemistry, remarked that they looked like a perfect couple, like zither and harp, and were meant to be husband and wife, a comment Dengdeng appreciated. Moments later, a blue lantern was hung outside the tavern. Lu Yan cautioned Dengdeng to be vigilant, suggesting the person hanging the lantern might be in disguise. They then saw a child moving between the tavern and a nearby pharmacy, exchanging a box for money.
Dengdeng criticized the worm dealer for exploiting children. Lu Yan explained that such "operating under the shadow" tactics in a bustling market were necessary for large-scale, illicit spirit worm dealings that had caused widespread fear in Yingdu, implying that multiple parties were involved. They followed the child to the pharmacy, which had a large warehouse in the back. Just as they apprehended the pharmacy owner, a fire suddenly broke out outside, prompting calls for help.
Lu Yan quickly secured the long-ear spirit creature and ordered him taken to Bai Mansion, dismissing concerns about the fire, stating it wasn't necessary to check the pharmacy for worms. Meanwhile, at Bai Mansion, Chief Bai was celebrating Bai Shiqi's birthday and sought to finalize her marriage to Gu Beixi. Bai Shiqi, however, revealed to her father that Gu Beixi was in love with someone else.
Gu Beixi then directly confessed to Bai Shiqi that his heart belonged to Dengdeng, having grown up with her, and that he had already spoken to Chief Bai about breaking off their engagement. Bai Shiqi, acknowledging they were both struggling in unrequited loves, gracefully accepted, finding solace in the feeling of loving someone. Gu Beixi informed her he would be leaving Bai Mansion the next day and urged her to forget him and start a new life.
Lu Yan and Dengdeng arrived at Bai Mansion with the apprehended long-ear spirit creature. Chief Bai, impressed by their capture, still demanded concrete evidence and a confession before releasing Peng Dahai. Dengdeng promised to deliver both before the birthday banquet concluded, provided they were given a place to interrogate the suspect. Chief Bai agreed, promising to release Peng Dahai once the evidence was presented and the criminal officially imprisoned.
In the interrogation room, Dengdeng employed harsh methods, including a chili-water soaked whip, but the suspect remained defiant, claiming he only sold life-saving herbs and had no knowledge of spirit worms. Gu Beixi joined the interrogation, using ear-piercing torture. The suspect eventually admitted to hearing about spirit worm trade in the Mysterious Market but maintained he was just a regular herb seller. Xin expressed concern about the lack of physical evidence due to the fire.
Lu Yan then revealed his foresight: he had already retrieved a spirit worm from the pharmacy before the fire. He explained that normal pharmacies organize herbs by weight, but he found lighter herbs on the bottom shelves, suggesting the shelves had been rearranged to conceal something on top. Faced with this undeniable evidence and the lingering effects of a spirit worm within him (which Lu Yan noticed by his neck twitching, similar to sick animals), the suspect confessed.
He revealed his superior was known as the "King of Worms," whose true name was unknown. He stated that the King of Worms could control all spirit worms and their hosts, dictating their actions. The suspect also mentioned that a previous subordinate was killed by the King of Worms for violating the "no-business-with-humans" rule. He described the King of Worms as wearing a trench coat, with an unseen face, and making strange noises when he walked.
He claimed he, too, was controlled by a worm and therefore not acting of his own free will. Dengdeng decided to hand the suspect over to the police, reaffirming their resolve to save Peng Dahai and then confront the King of Worms to prevent further harm. Dengdeng shared the good news with Chieftain Yu and Lv Er, expressing joy at the prospect of a family reunion back at Qingquan Stronghold after celebrating Peng Dahai's release.
However, when Lu Yan suggested he would stay to continue the investigation while Dengdeng returned to the stronghold, Chieftain Yu's mood soured. He became angry again, reminding Dengdeng that Lu Yan had once tried to kill her. Dengdeng attempted to explain it was a misunderstanding, but Chieftain Yu dismissed it, asserting that living with such a person was dangerous and demanded Dengdeng write a divorce letter to Lu Yan on the spot.
Episode 20 Recap
Chieftain Yu pressed Yu Dengdeng to divorce Lu Yan, insisting she could only choose one of them. Dengdeng, holding Lu Yan's arm, stated her refusal. She recounted how Lu Yan had protected her on their journey and reminded her father of the significant dowries Lu Yan had brought, suggesting that if she divorced, Qingquan Stronghold would owe a substantial debt, potentially over ninety thousand taels with compound interest, which they could never repay.
Chieftain Yu remained stubborn, giving Dengdeng an ultimatum: choose him or Lu Yan. After exchanging a subtle glance with Lu Yan, Dengdeng conceded, affirming she would, of course, choose her father. She then swiftly wrote a divorce letter and asked Lu Yan to press his handprint on it. Lu Yan, confused and heartbroken, followed her, demanding an explanation. Dengdeng, with a playful smile, urged him to read the letter carefully.
It was an acrostic poem, ingeniously revealing that "this letter is invalid" and "the divorce letter is fake," much to Lu Yan's delight. She declared that he was her husband for life, and despite there being countless men in the world, she only wanted him. Meanwhile, Zhu Rong summoned the spirit worm from within the trench coat man, nourishing it with his own blood before reabsorbing its essence and energy.
He then placed the worm back into the man, instructing him to clean up the remaining problems and cause some trouble for their opponents. At Chief Bai's residence, Bai Shiqi's birthday banquet was underway. Chieftain Yu, famished, sneaked into the opulent dining hall, indulging in the delicious food and inadvertently consuming wine poisoned by the trench coat man.
Under the spirit worm's influence, he became like a "walking dead," violently attacking and gnawing on the confined medicine shop owner, then rampaging through the banquet. With a messy appearance, sharp fangs, and long, pointed nails, he lunged at Chief Bai, knocking him to the ground before biting guests nearby. Panic erupted, and attendees scattered. Just then, Dengdeng and her companions arrived.
Dengdeng moved to intervene but was held back by Lu Yan, who quickly used a spell to knock Chieftain Yu unconscious, bringing temporary calm. However, an enraged Chief Bai ordered the arrest of Lu Yan's group, accusing them of being monsters. Lu Yan promptly instructed Xin to summon a sedan chair, creating a diversion for their escape. As they fled, Lu Yan explained that he had placed a defensive barrier on the sedan chair to protect the transformed animals inside.
Dengdeng expressed concern about her father's sudden violent behavior and their need for a safe haven to treat him. She suggested an old temple outside the city, a place her uncle used to frequent. Lu Yan entrusted her father and the animals to her care while he went to rescue Dahai. He cautioned them to disguise themselves and be careful when leaving the city. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi was attempting to rescue Dahai from police custody.
Dahai, temporarily transformed into a woman due to a Spiritual Clan poison, managed to evade capture during the search, but Gu Beixi found himself cornered. At a critical moment, Bai Shiqi appeared, revealing that Gu Beixi, whom she referred to as "Mr. Scar Face," was her former savior. She boldly cleared the way for him, warning the police not to offend her. She then offered to drive them to the old temple outside the city, despite her poor driving skills.
At the temple, Chieftain Yu regained consciousness, disoriented. He vaguely recalled sneaking into the banquet and eating until he felt strange. Dengdeng, heartbroken by her father's suffering, vowed to find the culprit. Lu Yan explained that the "King of Worm" likely controlled Chieftain Yu to eliminate the medicine shop owner (Long Ears) and create a diversion at the banquet. Dengdeng recalled that the culprit was wearing a trench coat and had a distinctive walking sound.
They decided to seek clues at Chief Bai's mansion. At the mansion, Chief Bai apologized profusely to the County Magistrate for the chaos, citing Chieftain Yu's supposed "madness." The County Magistrate pressed Chief Bai about the dead suspect (Long Ears), demanding results within three days and emphasizing the need to keep the high-profile incident from higher authorities. Later, Bai Shiqi identified the suspicious individual as a journalist she had noticed at the banquet due to his shifty behavior.
She offered to check the banquet's guest list for his details, noting that journalists required certificates and registration for entry. Based on the description of the trench coat man's distinct walking sound, Lu Yan deduced he likely had a wooden leg, a specific characteristic that would narrow down the search. With Bai Shiqi's help, they located the journalist's house, a surprisingly large residence for a mere reporter.
They found the house abandoned and covered in spiderwebs but discovered a secret photo development room. Suddenly, the trench coat man, the King of Worm, appeared. During the ensuing confrontation, the King of Worm absorbed energy from nearby spirit worms. Dengdeng used her "Bone Softening Powder" to weaken him.
As police arrived, Lu Yan, realizing he and his group were wanted, quickly dealt with the King of Worm and left his body for the police, ensuring they had a "suspect" to report. Despite the King of Worm's death, Chieftain Yu's condition unexpectedly worsened, as he was still tormented by spirit worms. Lu Yan was puzzled, suspecting a deeper, unseen force at play.
He theorized that someone was always one step ahead, orchestrating events from the Mysterious Market to the banquet. He concluded that Zhu Rong, who had long coveted primal energy and was willing to sacrifice the lives of the Spiritual Clan, was likely the mastermind operating behind the scenes. To force Zhu Rong into the open, they would need to investigate the journalist's death further. Lu Yan tasked Xin with looking after Dengdeng and Chieftain Yu while he pursued this lead.
Meanwhile, the last concubine, growing increasingly weak, pleaded with Lu Yan to take her into the city for a final goodbye with Chief Bai, expressing her wish to die by her beloved's side. Lu Yan agreed. Chieftain Yu suffered another violent episode. Despite the danger, Dengdeng desperately tried to inject primal energy into him, while Gu Beixi helped hold him down.
Her companions urged her to stop, concerned for her own health as she tirelessly expended her energy with no visible improvement in her father's condition. However, Dengdeng refused to give up, recalling her helplessness when her mother passed away and vowing not to lose her father now that she had finally found him.
Episode 21 Recap
Dengdeng desperately continued to inject energy into Chieftain Yu, despite Lv Er's attempts to stop her. Lv Er was concerned she would make herself ill, but Dengdeng was resolute, stating that she could not bear to watch her father, whom she had only recently found, die after being helpless when her mother passed away. When Chieftain Yu showed a slight improvement, Dengdeng paused, still heartbroken that she couldn't fully cure him.
Lv Er comforted her, recalling Chieftain Yu's past wisdom: "The hurdles are difficult to pass, but they must be passed. Every step is difficult, but we still have to go step by step." This brought Dengdeng back to a snowy night in her childhood when she had a fever. Her father had risked the heavy snow and injured his leg to get her medicine, constantly tending to her and reminding her to face difficulties head-on.
As she thought of this, Dengdeng quietly vowed that she would not let anything happen to her father, imagining a future where they would hunt rabbits together. Lu Yan entered and sat beside Dengdeng. She quickly turned away to wipe her tears, but Lu Yan gently told her there was no need to pretend in front of him. Dengdeng then asked if she could hug him. Lu Yan responded by drawing her into his embrace.
Dengdeng confessed her profound fear, having never seen her father so vulnerable. She worried they wouldn't have the chance to do many things together, and she dreaded watching him be tormented by the spirit worms while feeling powerless to help, fearing that after finally finding him, she would lose him again. Lu Yan held her, assuring her, "Don't be afraid. I'm here. I'll always be with you." Dengdeng then asked Lu Yan what he had done that day.
He revealed he had found Reporter Shao's diary. After seeing Chieftain Yu's continued struggle, Lu Yan surmised that Reporter Shao was not the King of Worm, or at least not entirely. Dengdeng noted that Reporter Shao, who meticulously recorded his daily life, had abruptly stopped writing a month ago, and the notebook was covered in dust. This led them to believe Reporter Shao had been manipulated or controlled by the King of Worm.
Lu Yan had already checked Reporter Shao's body, finding a fist-sized hole in his chest surrounded by radiating, uneven blood marks, indicating the King of Worm had entered and exited there. He realized that the King of Worm could drastically increase its power by being inside a host and absorbing energy. Dengdeng expressed anger at the King of Worm for using Reporter Shao's body.
They concluded that the King of Worm's real motive was to obtain energy, using the spirit worm trade as a facade. With the King of Worm still alive and injured, they planned to travel to Yingdu the next day to find it, believing there was still hope for Chieftain Yu and other Spirit Clan members. Dengdeng thanked Lu Yan for his unwavering support.
Separately, after Lu Yan provided her with energy, the concubine temporarily regained her human form to meet Chief Bai. She had sent him a letter arranging to meet at the café where they first met, a detail Chief Bai recognized, confirming her as the sender. Despite the tight city-wide search for Spirit Clan members, she came to see him one last time, professing her love and wishing she could be an ordinary person to be his wife.
Chief Bai, though conflicted, admitted his deep feelings for her were "like spilled water," irreversible. He urged her to leave and take care, as he could no longer protect her in the increasingly dangerous Yingdu. As she prepared to depart, a server, despite Chief Bai's dismissal, insisted on bringing a new "garlic pastry" for them to try. The concubine instinctively reached for it, and upon contact with the garlic, she began to transform and collapsed, revealing her Spirit Clan form.
Just then, police outside were chasing another Spirit Clan member, and the server's scream of "Monster!" drew a reporter who rushed in to take photos. Chief Bai, distraught, quickly told the transformed concubine, now a small cat, to flee. Outside, Bai Shiqi encountered the transformed concubine and a young Spirit Clan boy.
When her father, Chief Bai, appeared, Bai Shiqi cleverly deflected his questions, claiming she had merely been out to buy coffee beans and had seen a cat run past. She then brought the concubine and the boy to the shabby temple where Dengdeng was. The boy explained that a "Miss Bai" (Bai Shiqi) had saved him and instructed the Tricolor Cat to lead him to a safe place, specifically mentioning Dengdeng and a handsome man by her side.
He then tearfully recounted that police were going house-to-house, arresting Spirit Clan members. His own parents were killed, rather than simply arrested like others, after they "resisted arrest." He vividly recalled one police officer dismissing the others, after which his parents, usually gentle people, seemed to go mad before suddenly kneeling and begging the officer, then dying shortly after.
Lu Yan examined the parents' bodies and confirmed their death was due to energy depletion, similar to other Spirit Clan members affected by spirit worms. He concluded that the King of Worm had found a new host among the police, using their authority to legally apprehend Spirit Clan members and drain their energy. The incident at the café, with newspaper headlines proclaiming "Police Director's Concubine is a Monster," deeply implicated Chief Bai.
The Magistrate reprimanded him, and the reporter who took the photos testified that Chief Bai had hidden and then released the concubine. To restore his reputation and save his family, Chief Bai vowed to the Magistrate to execute all captured Spirit Clan members at the execution ground that very day. Throughout Yingdu, the police intensified their search, using garlic to force Spirit Clan members to reveal their true forms before apprehending them.
Bai Shiqi overheard a household attendant discussing Chief Bai's plans for a mass execution and rushed to tell Gu Beixi, urging him to warn Dengdeng and Lu Yan. Gu Beixi, prioritizing Bai Shiqi's safety, told her to go home and promised he would deliver the message. Unbeknownst to them, Lu Yan, from his room, had already overheard their conversation about Chief Bai's planned execution. Meanwhile, the King of Worm, now inhabiting a police captain, found its current host's energy insufficient.
It commanded its subordinate to gather all scattered spirit worms, eagerly anticipating the mass execution as an opportunity to absorb a vast amount of energy and prepare for its ultimate revenge against Lu Yan.
Episode 22 Recap
Lu Yan, possessing exceptional senses, overheard Bai Shiqi and Gu Beixi's discussion about Chief Bai's plan to execute the Spirit Clan at the execution ground that very day. He immediately set off to investigate the situation, instructing Xin to remain behind and look after Dengdeng and the others. Moments later, Gu Beixi arrived, not realizing Lu Yan had already departed.
Upon learning from Xin that Lu Yan was on his way to the execution ground, Gu Beixi expressed frustration, accusing Lu Yan of attempting to claim all the credit. Gu Beixi then tried to leave to go to the execution ground himself, but Dengdeng, noticing his hasty departure and flustered demeanor, intercepted him. She pressed him for answers, knowing he was concealing something.
When Gu Beixi remained evasive, Dengdeng questioned Xin, who finally disclosed that Bai Shiqi had sent word about the execution and Lu Yan had gone to intervene. Angered that Lu Yan had gone alone, Dengdeng declared that as Lu Yan's person, she should be there too. Gu Beixi attempted to convince her to stay and care for her father, but Dengdeng refused, asserting her inability to stand by while the Spirit Clan faced danger.
She then commanded her people to arm themselves and head for the execution ground. As Dengdeng prepared to leave, Lv Er informed her that Paralyzed Yu wished to speak with her. Paralyzed Yu, having heard of her intention to break into the execution ground, told her he would not stop her this time. He confessed his regret for failing to save her mother in the past and urged Dengdeng to save Lu Yan so she wouldn't live with similar regrets.
Dengdeng promised to return safely and, in turn, asked her father to hold on. At the execution ground, the captured Spirit Clan members desperately pleaded for their lives. Despite their pleas, Chief Bai ordered the execution to proceed. Just as the police prepared to fire, Lu Yan appeared, swiftly cutting the chains binding the Spirit Clan members and urging them to flee. Enraged, Chief Bai denounced Lu Yan as a monster and ordered his officers to open fire.
Several Spirit Clan members were hit and fell. To shield them, Lu Yan quickly conjured a protective energy barrier. Witnessing Lu Yan's formidable power, Chief Bai escalated the assault, demanding heavy weapons and maximum firepower to eliminate them all. Despite the relentless gunfire directed at his barrier, Lu Yan maintained his composure. However, a new crisis emerged as the Spirit Clan members within his protection inexplicably turned violent, attacking each other.
Chief Bai, observing this internal chaos, intensified his assault on the barrier, even deploying cannons. Recognizing the immediate threat, Lu Yan shifted his focus to neutralizing the attacking police. The police officer, revealed to be under the control of the King of Worm, confronted Lu Yan, questioning if killing him would truly free the Spirit Clan from the spirit worms.
He then revealed the grim truth: the only way to remove the spirit worms was for Lu Yan to release all of his energy, effectively sacrificing himself. The King of Worm then unleashed a potent toxin, further driving the Spirit Clan into a murderous frenzy against one another. Overcome with grief and a profound sense of sacrifice, Lu Yan looked towards the approaching Dengdeng and tearfully apologized.
He then made his difficult choice, raising his hands to cast a spell that encased the King of Worm within the barrier. At this critical moment, Dengdeng, Gu Beixi, and their group, having used a diversionary tactic to breach the city's defenses, finally stormed into the execution ground. Lu Yan poured all his strength into the spell to defeat the King of Worm, ignoring the alarming changes within his own Energy Core.
In his heart, he offered an apology to Dengdeng, regretting that he would break his promise to grow old with her. A brilliant light erupted, and the barrier vanished. Lu Yan, utterly drained and weak, collapsed. Dengdeng was the first to react, rushing to his side, calling his name in anguish. She cradled him, chiding him for acting alone, asserting that he was hers and could not die without her permission.
Lu Yan, barely conscious, asked her to promise to live well, but Dengdeng vehemently refused. As Lu Yan's life force faded, Dengdeng and Xin desperately tried to infuse him with their energy, but their efforts were in vain. Dengdeng gently laid him down, pressing her face against his chest, pleading with him to awaken.
She invoked the Energy Core within him, declaring that if it had truly belonged to her three thousand years ago, she implored it to help Lu Yan now. She recounted his long wait for her and their unfulfilled dreams, begging for help so they could have children and a life together. Her impassioned plea awakened Yun Xi's energy. Dengdeng, enveloped in a golden light and growing golden wings, embraced Lu Yan. Her abundant energy revitalized him, and he finally awoke.
The awakened Spirit Clan members, recognizing Dengdeng as the Saintess, immediately knelt in reverence. Everyone celebrated Lu Yan's recovery and the Saintess's return, oblivious that the King of Worm's influence was not entirely vanquished. Back at the dilapidated temple, Dengdeng and Lu Yan found the last concubine and other Spirit Clan members had fully regained their human forms, and Paralyzed Yu was completely recovered and enjoying a hearty meal.
The Spirit Clan members gratefully acknowledged Dengdeng as the Saintess and thanked General Yan for slaying the King of Worm and granting them a new life. Dengdeng advised them to leave Yingdu City as soon as possible, offering them refuge in Qingquan Town or her own village, which they happily accepted. Paralyzed Yu expressed his gratitude to Lu Yan, remarking on his impressive actions that day. Dengdeng then playfully exaggerated Lu Yan's heroism to everyone.
When Lu Yan mentioned he'd recover in a few days, Dengdeng playfully insisted on personally overseeing his recovery, suggesting it would take at least a month, then extending it to years, even a lifetime, proclaiming he couldn't leave her anyway. The next day, she decided they should leave the shabby temple to find a better place for Lu Yan to recuperate. Later, Bai Shiqi's maid, Cuizhu, arrived to summon Gu Beixi.
Bai Shiqi, meeting with him, thanked him for his concern and information, while he, in turn, acknowledged her crucial warning. He apologized for the trouble her family might face due to their actions, but Bai Shiqi reassured him her family would be fine, cautioning him and his companions about the consequences of assaulting the police and freeing the Spirit Clan, and urging them to leave Yingdu immediately.
Bai Shiqi confessed she was there to say goodbye, understanding that his heart lay elsewhere. She asked him to take care of himself, to recover, and to look after Dengdeng, imploring him not to forget her as they were now "friends of life and death." Gu Beixi assured her he would not forget her, expressing how his perception of her had changed, seeing her as courageous and different from other girls.
He promised to invite her to his mountain village once the current crisis passed, describing a life of drinking and feasting that was more enjoyable than city life. Bai Shiqi made him promise to uphold his word. Before leaving, they shared a farewell hug, with Bai Shiqi reminding him, "Chieftain Gu, you promised to take me to drink and eat meat. Don't break your promise." That night, a heartbroken Gu Beixi, heavily intoxicated, confessed his deep love for Dengdeng.
However, he acknowledged her profound affection for Lu Yan, an intensity he had never witnessed before. He decided to let go of his feelings for her, pouring out a drink as a symbolic farewell to his unrequited love. He resolved to maintain a distance from Dengdeng from that day forward, whether as a brother or a stranger, but vowed to continue protecting her, as it had become an ingrained habit.
Episode 23 Recap
The morning began with Dengdeng preparing a lavish breakfast for Lu Yan, only to find him meditating silently in his room. Concerned by his stillness, she worried about his depleted energy from the previous day's events and attempted to transfer some of her own, but her energy inexplicably failed her. At that moment, Lu Yan awoke, realizing that the words he had spoken at the execution ground had solidified into a spirit pearl and lodged themselves within Dengdeng's hairpin.
He instinctively reached to retrieve it, but Dengdeng turned to face him, asking what he was doing. He quickly made up an excuse about brushing dust from her hair. She urged him to eat, having been in a coma for a day, and presented him with grilled fish and her favorite brown sugar rice cakes, which she made herself. Lu Yan, however, remained fixated on the hairpin.
Dengdeng mentioned that Gu Beixi had reported most of the spirit clan in Yingdu City had escaped after the execution, with the remaining ones also preparing to leave. Still attempting to get the hairpin back, Lu Yan tried to persuade her to return it, offering a more fashionable replacement, but Dengdeng refused, saying she was not materialistic and liked the wooden hairpin.
She playfully reminded him that he was like a "tiger stranded on a plain" and couldn't defeat her in his weakened state. Later, Dengdeng sensed someone was following her. She informed Paralyzed Yu and the others, and they devised a plan to capture the intruder. Despite Paralyzed Yu's initial objection, Dengdeng acted as bait, walking out into the courtyard at night. The mysterious figure, identified as A Xin, soon appeared and was swiftly caught in the Zichen Qiankun Net.
Initially, A Xin attempted to feign that he was merely testing her reaction abilities, but under pressure, he confessed that Lu Yan had asked him to retrieve the hairpin.
Before he could explain further, the messages recorded in the hairpin began to play, revealing Lu Yan's heartfelt confession: he had wished to grow old with Dengdeng but circumstances had prevented it, yet he vowed to marry her in the next life, just as she had taken him as her husband in this one. Deeply touched by these words, Dengdeng's eyes welled up. That night, Dengdeng visited Lu Yan’s room, finding him seemingly asleep.
She took out the hairpin, and Lu Yan’s declaration played once more. Lu Yan quickly sat up and snatched the hairpin, but Dengdeng proudly told him she already knew the words by heart. As she recited his passionate vow, Lu Yan tried to silence her, unintentionally pinning her against a wall. He then asked for her response to his confession.
Blushing, Dengdeng promised that if he ever broke their vow of growing old together again, she would confine him to Qingquan Stronghold forever. She then thanked him for entering her life, for making her no longer alone, and for sharing her joys and burdens. She concluded by telling him how wonderful it was to have him. Lu Yan, deeply content, leaned in and tenderly kissed her.
Their moment was abruptly interrupted by Paralyzed Yu, who burst into the room, refusing to accept Lu Yan as his son-in-law. Despite Dengdeng's protests that their divorce letter was unsigned and thus invalid, Paralyzed Yu remained adamant, demanding she return to her room. Dengdeng, after hugging Lu Yan and promising to convince her father, reluctantly left with Paralyzed Yu.
Paralyzed Yu then complained to Lv Er about Dengdeng prioritizing Lu Yan over him, but Lv Er advised him that children must follow their own paths and handed him a bag of money from Dengdeng. Paralyzed Yu was overjoyed until he learned the money was for Lu Yan’s supplements. Though reluctant, he complied with his daughter's wishes.
The next day, while in town buying supplements, Paralyzed Yu stumbled upon a gambling game and couldn't resist joining in, unaware that Zhu Rong was secretly watching him. He returned to the stronghold late, and Dengdeng, noticing his gambling smell, started to prepare a revitalizing soup for Lu Yan. However, she found only ginseng rootlets and a rooster instead of proper ginseng. As she contemplated using the rooster, she suddenly felt dizzy, realizing her energy was severely drained.
Just as she was about to collapse, Lu Yan arrived and caught her. He carried her to her room and attempted to replenish her energy, but observed it was rapidly being absorbed. Sensing a disturbance, Lu Yan discovered Zhu Rong's presence. Weakened from the recent battle, Lu Yan was no match for Zhu Rong. Paralyzed Yu and others intervened, attempting to help, but Zhu Rong retaliated by intensifying his torment of Dengdeng.
Zhu Rong smugly approached Lu Yan, intending to extract Yun Xi's Energy Core from him. However, Lu Yan, with a hidden move, managed to cause a backlash that inflicted a severe injury, forcing Zhu Rong to vanish. Immediately after, Lu Yan collapsed. Upon waking, Lu Yan's first concern was Dengdeng's condition. He then discovered a unique spirit worm residing within her.
He realized Zhu Rong had meticulously planned this, planting the spirit worm when Lu Yan's energy was at its lowest. This particular spirit worm was now inextricably linked to Dengdeng's life force, making its removal extremely dangerous. Lu Yan, suspecting it to be a spirit-worm gu—a type of legendary venomous worm—recalled that the "Thousand-Year Compendium" mentioned spirit worms were "chosen," not naturally born.
He also remembered a spirit-hunter in Yingdu City specializing in these gu arts, though the hunter's whereabouts were unpredictable. With Dengdeng's life hanging in the balance, and needing to stay by her side, Lu Yan asked Paralyzed Yu to seek out this elusive spirit-hunter. To monitor Dengdeng's condition, Lu Yan placed a spell in her hairpin, allowing him to sense any changes in her energy.
He assured A Xin that Zhu Rong was gravely wounded and would not pose an immediate threat. Meanwhile, news reached the stronghold that Chief Bai in Yingdu City had been dismissed. On their journey home, the Bai family was ambushed by Xiongya Stronghold and tragically killed. Gu Beixi rushed to the scene, confirming the massacre but finding no trace of Bai Shiqi, which offered a glimmer of hope.
Back at Qingquan Stronghold, Dengdeng awoke feeling her own energy drain, though she tried to conceal it from A Xin, who fussed over her. A messenger then arrived, confirming Bai Shiqi's disappearance and Gu Beixi's efforts to find her, possibly within Xiongya Stronghold. Dengdeng immediately instructed A Xin to send word to Nanfeng Stronghold, asking them to support Gu Beixi. Just as this urgent matter was being discussed, Paralyzed Yu returned, excitedly announcing that he had found a method to remove the spirit worm.
Episode 24 Recap
Paralyzed Yu rushed back, excitedly telling Dengdeng that he had finally discovered a way to combat the Gu worm plaguing her: the Dust-proof Bead. Lu Yan recalled that the ancient Shu royal family possessed such a bead three thousand years ago, but he was unsure if it still remained in the old capital of ancient Shu. Nevertheless, for Dengdeng's sake, he was willing to investigate.
Since the ruins of ancient Shu were located in Lingdong, not far from their current position, the group quickly packed their belongings and set off. Meanwhile, the Xiongya Stronghold launched a brutal attack on the Bai family, showing no mercy. In a desperate attempt to protect Bai Shiqi, her maid Cuizhu donned Bai Shiqi’s clothes, drawing the attention of the bandits and sacrificing herself. Despite this, dozens of Bai family members were captured.
At a critical moment, a young concubine appeared, but she was shot and died in the arms of Chief Bai. Soon after, Chief Bai was also shot and killed right in front of Bai Shiqi. Bai Shiqi awoke from her nightmare to find herself in a dark, small room, her hands and feet tightly bound. Two men burst in, intending to harm her. Bai Shiqi fought back fiercely, her desperate resistance scaring the men away.
To ensure Dengdeng's safety, Lu Yan embedded a soul-tracing technique into her hairpin, integrating his own energy with hers. This allowed him to sense whenever Dengdeng used her energy, even anticipating her mischievous attempts to step on him. Dengdeng, initially amused, joked about him being a controlling husband from novels. Lu Yan clarified that the technique was for monitoring her energy loss and, more importantly, for tracking Zhu Rong’s whereabouts.
He admitted that Zhu Rong had not been detected yet, possibly because he hadn't used his energy or had retreated to a place beyond the technique's reach. Dengdeng assured him they would search together. Along their journey, Paralyzed Yu grew uneasy about Dengdeng and Lu Yan traveling alone in a carriage. He instructed Dahai to stop and promptly moved to Dengdeng's carriage, intending to separate the two. As the father and daughter bickered, Dengdeng suddenly collapsed.
Lu Yan quickly realized Zhu Rong was absorbing her energy, and his soul-tracing technique had been blocked. Sometime later, Zhu Rong, who was still recovering from his previous defeat, was seen acknowledging his impatience in trying to retrieve the energy core. He vowed to resolve the situation swiftly, promising to retrieve what belonged to him once his allies arrived. Dengdeng eventually regained consciousness, downplaying her condition as mere fatigue from travel.
However, Paralyzed Yu chastised her, revealing that Lu Yan had to transfer energy to her to revive her. Upon reaching a village near the old capital of ancient Shu, Lu Yan and Xin went to investigate. They found the villagers peculiar; everyone claimed to have never heard of ancient Shu, despite ancient Shu totems being visibly carved into the village buildings. A shopkeeper explained that these were ancestral patterns, but he knew nothing of ancient Shu.
Lu Yan deduced that the villagers might have forgotten their heritage or were deliberately secretive with outsiders. He decided they must stay longer and investigate every possibility. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi infiltrated the Xiongya Stronghold, confronting its chief and demanding to know Bai Shiqi's location. He swiftly overpowered the chief, learning she was held in the backyard woodshed. After freeing other captives, he found a terrified Bai Shiqi huddled in a corner.
Recognizing him, she tearfully clung to Gu Beixi, recounting the horror of her family's massacre and her despair at being left without a home. Gu Beixi gently comforted her, promising vengeance and declaring that he would be her new home. The Xiongya Stronghold chief soon regained consciousness and ordered his men to capture Gu Beixi and Bai Shiqi. Gu Beixi, pulling a panicking Bai Shiqi, took cover behind some sandbags.
He calmly told her that while he usually used a gun, the knife he wielded was from his childhood training. Realizing they were being surrounded, he devised a plan for Bai Shiqi to escape while he distracted their pursuers. He instructed her to wait for him at a shabby City God Temple in a nearby village called Taiping.
Bai Shiqi, understanding his intentions, made him promise to return safely, vowing to wait for him there and not leave until he arrived. Gu Beixi, with a self-assured grin, handed her a knife for self-defense and bravely dashed out, facing a hail of gunfire as he led the bandits away. Back in a village named Baile, Lu Yan’s group observed that all the villagers, even those celebrating a wedding, were eerily expressionless, making the joyous occasion resemble a funeral.
Lu Yan confirmed that they were ordinary people, not of the spirit clan. An exception to the village's apathy was a "fool," who showed fear at a totem and muttered about "fireflies." Believing this man might hold crucial information, Lu Yan placed a tracking mark on him. They found the man, a former scholar named Sun, with a woman named Mei. Mei, a Tongyangxi who had been rescued by Sun from abuse by the Zhang family, explained his history.
When Lu Yan showed Sun the ancient Shu totem again, Sun became agitated, repeatedly shouting "dragon pattern" before collapsing, a reaction that visibly disturbed Paralyzed Yu. Later that night, Dengdeng, noticing Paralyzed Yu's troubled demeanor, pressed him for answers. Yu revealed that the "dragon pattern" was connected to her mother's death. He recounted the night the Yu Village was massacred, and he found her dead, with the "dragon pattern" marked in the snow beside her.
He believed this mark was linked to her killers. He also shared that villagers had told him a beggar took Dengdeng out of the village for safety. Dengdeng speculated that Sun might know how her mother died and the significance of the dragon pattern. Unbeknownst to them, Lu Yan had overheard their conversation. When Xin later asked about his somber mood, Lu Yan confessed that he, too, bore a dragon pattern on his body.
Episode 25 Recap
Lu Yan harbored a dragon pattern on his body, a mark his father had branded on him to remind him of humanity's plight and the ongoing struggle against the Spirit Clan. At present, he believed he was the sole possessor of such a mark, which made Chieftain Yu's recent remarks about the dragon pattern unsettling. Despite this growing unease, Lu Yan's immediate priority remained the search for the Dust-proof Bead. He resolved to thoroughly investigate the dragon pattern mystery later.
Meanwhile, Gu Beixi arrived at the City God Temple, desperately calling out for Bai Shiqi. Finding no trace of her, he noticed bullet marks on a table and a discarded gun. As he picked up the weapon, he sensed movement and discovered a frightened child hiding in a pile of straw.
Gu Beixi, putting away the gun, reassured the child, who tearfully recounted how monsters had killed many people and taken a "white-clothed, long-haired sister" – the one who had carried the gun and tried to shoot the monsters but missed. Gu Beixi’s heart sank, his eyes welling with tears. Later, his subordinates found him in a drunken stupor, still calling for Shiqi and regretting his delay.
They informed him that Miss Bai was gone and that Chieftain Yu and her group had gone to Lingdong and hadn't been heard from for days, possibly in danger. Hearing this, Gu Beixi immediately set off to find Dengdeng. The next morning, Dengdeng woke to find that Paralyzed Yu, Lv Er, and Dahai had vanished. She searched their room and found a note from Paralyzed Yu stating, "Lv Er and I have things to do. Don't worry."
Suddenly, the door to her room was shut, and thick smoke poured in from an unseen fire outside. Lu Yan swiftly cast a spell, breaking open the door and leading Dengdeng out. The arsonist, however, had already fled. Lu Yan suspected someone was attempting to silence them. Just then, Dahai returned, explaining that he had been assigned to guard Sun Xiucai but had fallen into a deep sleep.
When he awoke, he discovered that villagers had taken Sun Xiucai, intending to execute him. Dengdeng, Lu Yan, and Dahai rushed to intervene as villagers attempted to kill Sun Xiucai. Dengdeng confronted them about their unlawful actions. A village elder retorted that it was their Baile Village's private matter and demanded they leave. The elder accused Sun Xiucai of being a "sinner" who had offended the "Cliff Man" and threatened to expose village secrets, thereby jeopardizing everyone.
The elder explained that the "Cliff Man" was a mountain deity, the guardian spirit of Baile Village, who blessed them with prosperity and health, and anyone opposing him was an enemy. Undeterred, Lu Yan easily overpowered the villagers, and they rescued Sun Xiucai. Back at their lodging, Lu Yan skillfully removed two bronze nails from the back of Sun Xiucai's skull, which had caused his memory loss. With his sanity restored, Sun Xiucai recounted his story.
Baile Village was once an ordinary place where he was born and raised until he left to become a scholar. Upon his return, he found the village strangely altered; everyone was expressionless, and many childhood friends had disappeared, said to have become "Cliff Men" living a "deity's life." No one could clearly explain what a "Cliff Man" was. He later learned that the missing villagers had vanished while fishing in Liu Creek.
Driven by curiosity, Sun Xiucai ventured to Liu Creek by boat and entered a karst cave. He could not recall the specifics but remembered a terrifying experience. Glowworms, he said, had guided him out. He had attempted to reveal the truth to the villagers, but they silenced him, fearing he would bring disaster by exposing the Cliff Man's secrets, leading to the bronze nails being hammered into his head.
When Lu Yan showed Sun Xiucai a drawing of the dragon pattern, he trembled and confirmed he had seen it in the cave, which he described as "hell." Following Sun Xiucai's directions, the group arrived at the supposed cave entrance but found nothing resembling one. Lu Yan explained that it was a "Cloaking," a Spirit Clan spell that shifts time and space, making the entrance appear different and preventing anyone from finding their way back.
They entered the hidden passage, which was dark and eerie. Emerging from the passage, they found themselves in a bustling ancient city, its inhabitants clad in clothing from the Ancient Shu period. Lu Yan recognized it as a replica of Ancient Shu's capital. On a stone tablet, a historical account described a general who "fought a hundred and eliminated countless enemies," prompting Xin to remark that the story seemed to be about Lu Yan.
Dengdeng suggested they split up to search more efficiently. She and Dahai would head east, while Lu Yan and Xin would go west. Asserting that no one could take her man from her, she agreed when Lu Yan reminded her to use the hairpin to call him if there was danger. While exploring the west, Lu Yan and Xin saw citizens worshiping a statue of "General Lu Yan," with Xin noting that it bore no resemblance to Lu Yan himself.
Meanwhile, in the east, Dengdeng and Dahai came across a wedding celebration, where Dahai spotted a familiar mark left by Paralyzed Yu, reading "South of the City." Following the clue, Dengdeng and Dahai located the entrance to an underground palace. Suddenly, aggressive Ghost Vines sprang from the ground, but Lu Yan arrived in time to fend them off. From within the palace, Wei Du emerged with his guards.
He was visibly overjoyed, greeting Lu Yan as "General" and expressing his relief that he had finally returned. Wei Du led them to a grand general's mansion within the city, meticulously crafted to replicate Lu Yan's personal residence from his adulthood. Inside, Wei Du's subordinate reacted angrily to Dahai's jest about Lu Yan being Dengdeng's "concubine," sternly reminding them of Lu Yan's royal status as a prince, much to Lu Yan's mild amusement.
Alone with Wei Du, Lu Yan explained that Yun Xi's energy core had saved him, and he had spent three millennia to resurrect her spirit, which now resided in Dengdeng. He also revealed that he and Dengdeng were married, a revelation Wei Du received with a feigned composure that belied his true thoughts. At the welcoming banquet, Dengdeng candidly questioned Wei Du about his apparent immortality, noting he seemed to be an ordinary man.
Wei Du explained that after Lu Yan's departure and the fall of Shu, he and his surviving men were captured by the Spirit Clan, who used them to test elixirs. The survivors became immortal and eventually escaped, finding refuge in the legendary underground palace. A powerful spirit-hunter among them created a magical barrier at the entrance, sealing them off from the outside world.
They built this city, living peacefully and prosperously, realizing the ideal city-state that he and Lu Yan had once dreamed of. Dengdeng probed further, inquiring about the Ghost Vines. Wei Du stated that the Spirit Clan had planted them during an attempted invasion but abandoned them after Zhu Rong's demise. He affirmed that their guards prevented both people from entering and the vines from harming anyone.
Dengdeng then asked if Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er had entered the palace, which Wei Du denied. Dengdeng, however, highlighted inconsistencies, pointing out that the nearby Baile Village had Shu totems, suggesting its residents frequently entered and exited this hidden city. Wei Du dismissed this. Lu Yan shifted the conversation to the Dust-proof Bead, explaining it was vital for Dengdeng's health.
Wei Du claimed it had been missing since Shu's fall and offered a city doctor, but Lu Yan insisted only the bead would suffice. Feigning dizziness from the wine, Dengdeng decided to retire. Wei Du assured Lu Yan that his men would see to her, and Dahai and Xin accompanied her. After they left, Wei Du expressed his profound longing for Lu Yan and their days of camaraderie in the army, vehemently blaming the Spirit Clan for Shu's destruction. As he spoke, Lu Yan suddenly sensed a telepathic signal of a "headache" from Dengdeng's hairpin, and his expression grew concerned.
Episode 26 Recap
Lu Yan hurried to Dengdeng's room after she feigned a headache. She admitted her discomfort was an act to draw him away from Wei Du, as she suspected Wei Du was untrustworthy. Dengdeng explained that Wei Du had lied about her father's whereabouts, claiming he'd left town, yet failed to even check the underground palace direction where her father had left a mark.
She further noted the presence of Dandong Azaleas in Wei Du's courtyard, a rare and expensive breed cultivated only in recent decades, which seemed out of place for someone from ancient times. Despite this, Lu Yan found it difficult to believe his old comrade was deceitful, reminding her of Wei Du's honest character over their decade-long acquaintance. Dengdeng countered that three millennia could change a person and urged Lu Yan to be cautious.
Lu Yan, in turn, warned her that the people here were very sensitive to the Spirit Clan and advised her not to use her energy when he wasn't around. The next morning, Wei Du presented a soldier named Li, whose arm was severely injured and ulcerated by Ghost Vines, claiming only amputation could save him. Wei Du asked Lu Yan to use his energy core to heal Li. Lu Yan instantly mended the wound, which visibly impressed Wei Du.
Wei Du then suggested Lu Yan use his powerful energy to eliminate the Spirit Clan. Lu Yan firmly refused, stating that the energy belonged to the Spirit Clan's Saintess and could not be used for slaughter. Wei Du quickly apologized for his suggestion. While Lu Yan was with Wei Du, Dengdeng continued her investigation, mingling with soldiers and engaging them in dice games. She noticed that many soldiers had dragon patterns tattooed on their bodies.
Dahai confirmed her findings after checking the training field, reporting that every soldier bore the tattoo. Meanwhile, Xin returned to report that he found no signs of Paralyzed Yu around the casino, which was unusual for him after completing a task. Dengdeng deduced that Paralyzed Yu was still in the city and that Wei Du had deliberately misled her to keep her away from Lu Yan. She decided to directly test Wei Du's intentions.
Dengdeng challenged a group of soldiers to a martial arts competition, drawing Wei Du's immediate intervention. As she persistently provoked him, Wei Du reluctantly drew his sword. During their duel, Wei Du, in a moment of anger, lashed out, muttering about the Spirit Clan. Dengdeng then seized the opportunity to feign a faint. Lu Yan, who had appeared at some point, quickly swept her into his arms and carried her away, leaving a perplexed Wei Du behind.
Later, in their room, Dengdeng admitted to Lu Yan that her fainting was an act. Realizing Wei Du was likely eavesdropping, they loudly "argued." Dengdeng accused Lu Yan of prioritizing his loyalty to Wei Du over her safety, suggesting Wei Du was scheming. Lu Yan defended Wei Du, saying he was a good brother and there must be a misunderstanding. Dengdeng passionately declared she would not let Lu Yan repeat past mistakes. Their staged argument was overheard by Wei Du.
Afterward, Wei Du was shown talking to Zhu Rong, who suggested that Lu Yan's bond with Dengdeng had superseded his brotherhood with Wei Du. Wei Du, though initially hesitant, agreed to test Lu Yan's loyalty. Zhu Rong proposed that Wei Du should bring Dengdeng to him as part of a mutual agreement, implying Dengdeng's life could be sacrificed for the sake of the ancient Shu people, leaving Wei Du to ponder the choice.
Wei Du later informed Lu Yan that the Dust-proof Bead had been located within the underground palace. He explained that to bypass the dangerous Ghost Vines guarding the entrance, they would need to use live creatures to distract them. The group successfully navigated the treacherous path into the deep recesses of the underground palace.
As they entered, Dengdeng and Dahai noticed the accompanying soldiers seemed uncharacteristically stiff and avoided eye contact, a stark contrast to their relaxed demeanor during gambling just the day before. Dengdeng mused if Wei Du was jealous of her closeness to Lu Yan and was trying to alienate them. Wei Du, overhearing, warned Dengdeng not to corrupt his soldiers' morale with her games and even offered to find "idle men" from the city to entertain her.
Lu Yan intervened, urging them to focus on finding the Dust-proof Bead. They soon arrived at an ancestral temple where, after cleansing their hands in the Mu Pool, they paid their respects to the former emperors of Shu. Dengdeng playfully asked Lu Yan if this counted as honoring his parents, signifying their official marriage.
Upon reaching the inner treasury, Wei Du declared that only members of the Shu royal family were permitted to enter and instructed Dengdeng and Dahai to wait outside. Lu Yan persuaded Dengdeng to comply, promising a swift return. Inside, Lu Yan's gaze fell upon his old personal weapon, the Dragon-pattern Sword. He made it clear that he was not there for the sword but for the Dust-proof Bead.
Wei Du then revealed that the bead was indeed within the palace, but its retrieval was conditional: Lu Yan had to accept the Dragon-pattern Sword and lead the Shu army in a campaign to eradicate the Spirit Clan. Lu Yan refused, stating that the long-standing conflict between humans and the Spirit Clan had subsided and he had no intention of reigniting war. Wei Du then bared his arm, revealing a dragon tattoo.
He explained that he and his comrades had etched these tattoos on themselves three millennia ago, believing Lu Yan had died saving the Saintess of the Spirit Clan, and as a solemn vow to kill all Spirit Clan members. Lu Yan corrected him, reminding Wei Du that the true mission of Shu's warriors was always to protect all living beings, not to annihilate any race.
Wei Du, however, remained resolute, arguing that true peace could only be achieved once the Spirit Clan was completely eliminated. Lu Yan maintained that after three millennia, the human and Spirit worlds were inextricably intertwined, making the extermination of either impossible. He expressed his belief that Dengdeng, like Yun Xi before her, embodied a spirit of peace and could guide both races towards continued harmonious coexistence.
Despite Lu Yan's arguments, Wei Du urged him not to abandon his "great cause" and pressed him to accept the sword. Lu Yan, unwilling to concede, demanded the Dust-proof Bead directly. Wei Du, with a knowing smirk, confessed that he had anticipated Lu Yan's choice and chillingly implied that Dengdeng might not live to see the day.
He revealed that he had even conspired with Zhu Rong to delay Lu Yan and ensure harm came to Dengdeng, all to prevent Lu Yan from repeating past mistakes. Enraged, Lu Yan attempted to blast open the impenetrable stone door with his energy, but to no avail. Wei Du gloated that the palace's intricate design and its ability to block the Spirit Clan's aura would make finding Dengdeng impossible.
Just then, Lu Yan smiled enigmatically, announcing that Dengdeng had already acquired the Dust-proof Bead. Stunned, Wei Du immediately rushed to check the supposed location of the bead, finding it still there. He quickly realized Lu Yan had tricked him. Meanwhile, Dengdeng and Dahai, left to wait outside, grew increasingly suspicious of their surroundings. They attempted to find a way out, only to discover they were trapped in a complex maze.
They stumbled upon a hidden chamber filled with numerous human skeletons, some clad in modern clothing, leading them to believe these were the missing villagers Sun had spoken of. They wondered how these people could have bypassed the formidable Ghost Vines guarding the palace entrance. Feeling pity for the deceased, Dengdeng and Dahai knelt to pray for their souls. As they did, a swarm of fireflies suddenly appeared, instantly reminding them of Sun's earlier account of being led out of a dark place by fireflies.
Episode 27 Recap
Dengdeng and Dahai were surrounded by countless fireflies, which Dengdeng believed were the spirits of the dead. Dahai hoped the fireflies would lead them out, just as they had supposedly led Sun, who had previously been scared by them in what must be this very underground palace. Dengdeng explained that her father once said spirits could transform into fireflies after death, suggesting these were the deceased trapped here.
Feeling pity for the souls, Dengdeng used her energy to release them from purgatory, causing the clothes on the skeletons to vanish. This act, however, depleted her energy significantly. Just then, ghost vines appeared and attacked them. Dengdeng quickly pushed Dahai out of the way, inadvertently causing him to trigger a hidden exit mechanism. Dahai tried to re-enter, but the secret door wouldn't budge. As Dengdeng fought the vines alone, Paralyzed Yu, her father, suddenly appeared, worried about her.
He assured her he would lead her out of the underground palace and claimed he had already figured out the way, mentioning that Lv Er had gone ahead. He also said they should find Dahai and Lu Yan. As they walked, Dengdeng became increasingly suspicious of "Paralyzed Yu" because he didn't recognize his own unique trail markings and was unfamiliar with her father's common sayings. Confronting him, she held a dagger to his throat, demanding his true identity. "
Paralyzed Yu" then revealed himself to be Zhu Rong. Zhu Rong acknowledged Dengdeng by her former name, Yun Xi. Dengdeng accused him of using her to get to Lu Yan, specifically to obtain the energy pellet. Zhu Rong confirmed his intention was to acquire Lu Yan's energy pellet, dismissing her own limited energy. He challenged her to retrieve it herself if she wanted to "discuss."
He then declared that the energy pellet rightfully belonged to the Spirit Clan and accused Dengdeng, as the former Saintess, of betraying her people by giving it to a human three thousand years ago. Dengdeng retorted, criticizing Zhu Rong for causing the spirit worm riot, killing countless spirits, and rendering many in Yingdu City homeless, questioning his right to be the Spirit Clan leader.
Zhu Rong dismissed her accusations, claiming he had led the Spirit Clan to new lands when their homeland's resources were depleted and they resorted to cannibalism. He blamed Dengdeng for leaving the Spirit Clan vulnerable by giving the energy pellet to a human, who then killed many spirits during decades of human-spirit warfare. Dengdeng maintained that the current Lu Yan only sought peace between humans and spirits, questioning why Zhu Rong was reigniting conflict.
Zhu Rong scoffed at the idea of peace, saying the Spirit Clan lived in hiding, unable to show their true forms. He then reaffirmed his purpose: Dengdeng betrayed their clan three thousand years ago, and now he, Zhu Rong, would lead the Spirit Clan to conquer the Nine Continents. With a swift movement, he flung Dengdeng far away. Dengdeng found herself trapped within a magical formation, which Zhu Rong quickly activated.
She attempted to break it with her own blood, but Zhu Rong effortlessly disarmed her, dissolving her dagger into dust, and then magically bound her, causing her immense pain. Just as her spirit worm was activated and Zhu Rong began to absorb her energy, the real Paralyzed Yu, accompanied by Lv Er and Dahai, burst in to rescue her.
Dahai explained that he had accidentally met Lv Er in the maze-like underground palace, and they followed the flower marks Dengdeng had left earlier. As they tried to leave, Zhu Rong attacked, saying, "You want to leave? It's not that easy." He continued to feed on Dengdeng's energy, causing her great suffering. Suddenly, Lu Yan appeared and immediately challenged Zhu Rong, declaring, "I'm the one you want to deal with. Come at me if you dare."
Zhu Rong, realizing Lu Yan was a formidable opponent, quickly fled the scene. Lu Yan immediately transmitted energy to Dengdeng to stabilize her. As they prepared to leave, Wei Du and his soldiers blocked their path. Dengdeng wryly remarked on Wei Du's unwavering loyalty to Lu Yan. Wei Du then issued an ultimatum, forcing Lu Yan to choose between Dengdeng and his loyal soldiers who had risked their lives for him.
Wei Du warned that without the Dust-proof Bead, Dengdeng would eventually die from energy depletion. Unexpectedly, A Xin appeared with the Dust-proof Bead, revealing that Lu Yan had secretly instructed him to investigate it while pretending to leave, demonstrating Lu Yan's superior foresight. Dengdeng teased Lu Yan for "scheming against his own men" with such elaborate plots. Despite retrieving the bead, Lu Yan prepared to leave, stating he would not pursue Wei Du's past actions.
However, Wei Du vehemently protested, explaining that if Lu Yan took the Dust-proof Bead, all the citizens of the capital would perish. He tearfully confessed to lying, revealing that the city's inhabitants initially survived by testing Spirit Clan medicine and later gained immortality from the Dust-proof Bead, which Zhu Rong had provided. However, the bead required constant replenishment from an external source.
Dengdeng, connecting the pieces of information, accused Wei Du of turning the underground palace into a death trap, using the lives of countless humans from different eras, including the recently missing villagers from Baile Village, to fuel the bead and maintain the city's immortality. Wei Du admitted to this grim truth, lamenting the difficult choices he had to make to save his people.
He implored Lu Yan to stay and rule as their king, threatening collective suicide if he abandoned them. Dengdeng, seeing through Wei Du's emotional manipulation, called his bluff. She dramatically grabbed the Dust-proof Bead, offering Wei Du a new choice: she would either smash the bead, killing everyone and relieving Lu Yan of his dilemma, or Wei Du could lead his people out of the underground palace with them.
In return, Lu Yan would become their king, and she, their queen, promising to bear children to continue his lineage once the spirit worm was expelled from her body by the bead's power. Despite Wei Du's reluctance about her Spirit Clan identity, Lu Yan declared Dengdeng's choice was his own, urging Wei Du to accept. Convinced, Wei Du agreed to lead his people out. Once outside, Wei Du knelt before Lu Yan, admitting his deep transgressions and seeking punishment.
Lu Yan questioned him about the dragon tattoo on Dengdeng's mother's killer, asking if it was related to his army. Wei Du clarified that his people had never left the city and could only exist within the Dust-proof Bead's energy field, explaining why he couldn't have been involved. He expressed profound gratitude for Lu Yan's return, proclaiming him their only hope to venture beyond the city. Lu Yan told him to rise.
Lu Yan and Dengdeng, having both maneuvered to stay in the city for their own reasons, implicitly acknowledged their shared decision. Wei Du, elated by Lu Yan's decision to stay, immediately began planning an elaborate enthronement ceremony. He presented Lu Yan with auspicious dates chosen by a fortune-teller and detailed protocols based on ancient Shu etiquette. Lu Yan, however, was indifferent, telling Wei Du to proceed as planned and not to bother with "old calendars."
He argued that the rightful heir by ancient rules would be his elder brother. Wei Du countered, recalling how the elder prince's reign led to Shu's decline and expressing his long-held belief that only Lu Yan could ensure Shu's prosperity, thus fulfilling a three-thousand-year-old regret. When Wei Du proposed building a new palace, Lu Yan dismissed it as a wasteful display, viewing himself as merely a "puppet emperor" of this isolated city.
Wei Du, deeply loyal, reiterated his commitment to helping Lu Yan restore Shu's territory and admitted his past mistake of trading with Zhu Rong for the Dust-proof Bead to ensure his people's survival. He offered to atone for his sins by stepping down after Lu Yan's coronation, begging Lu Yan not to abandon them again. Lu Yan then ordered Wei Du to cease the cruel practice of sacrificing external humans to the Dust-proof Bead.
He proposed to inject his own energy into the bead, a solution Wei Du welcomed with joy, envisioning a prosperous Shu no longer dependent on human sacrifice or Zhu Rong. Lu Yan visited the underground palace to fulfill his promise, injecting his energy into the Dust-proof Bead, which Wei Du stated would remain in the palace for safety. Later, while walking through the city with Wei Du, Lu Yan witnessed soldiers chasing a distraught Mei from Baile Village.
Mei cried out for help, terrified of "monsters." Lu Yan recognized her and sternly questioned Wei Du about the incident. It became clear that the villagers from Baile Village had been led to the underground palace to be sacrificed to the ghost vines, and Mei had barely escaped, leaving her traumatized and confused. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi was preoccupied with Bai Shiqi.
After having his men search for her, he received a jewelry box containing Bai Shiqi's hairpin and several portraits of himself, depicting both his long-haired and short-haired appearances.
The discovery, coupled with flashbacks of their past encounters—including her asking his name and him instructing her not to tell his family, her brave declaration that he wasn't a bad guy, and a poignant farewell where she used his real name and asked him to forget her—made him realize that Bai Shiqi had known his true identity all along but had chosen to pretend otherwise. Overwhelmed by regret and sorrow, Gu Beixi wept, reflecting on her image and their last embrace.
Episode 28 Recap
Upon discovering Mei had escaped from the underground palace, Lu Yan confronted Wei Du, questioning why he continued to lure outsiders there for sacrifice. Wei Du quickly apologized, explaining that he only knew the entrance to the underground palace, not the exit, and ordered his men to release Mei. Lu Yan, with no other recourse, instructed Xin to take the disoriented Mei back to the General Mansion for recovery.
He then firmly commanded Wei Du to cease using human lives for sacrifice to the Dust-proof Bead. Meanwhile, Dengdeng informed Paralyzed Yu that every soldier in the city bore a dragon mark. As they discussed this, Wei Du summoned Dengdeng.
Wei Du expressed his disapproval of Lu Yan marrying a Spirit Clan woman but stated that, seeing Lu Yan’s deep affection for her and her lack of memory of her past, he could reluctantly accept her as the Queen of Shu. He emphasized that if Dengdeng chose to marry Lu Yan, she must abandon her Spirit Clan identity and refrain from using energy magic, warning of consequences if she caused unrest.
Wei Du also assigned a team of guards to her. Dengdeng understood this was a tactic to monitor her, but she accepted it for Lu Yan’s sake. However, she couldn't resist a subtle jab, pointing out that Lu Yan possessed a Spirit Clan Energy Core, making him part Spirit Clan, and that their future children would also carry Spirit Clan blood, much to Wei Du's consternation.
The next day, Dengdeng, accompanied by her new guards, ventured out into the city streets. She indulged in a shopping spree, quickly burdening her entourage with numerous purchases. During her outing, she made an unexpected discovery: a prosperous market district concealed a restricted area heavily guarded by soldiers. Taking advantage of the guards accompanying Dengdeng, Paralyzed Yu successfully escaped the mansion.
He used a yellow talisman to probe the city's boundaries, only to find that despite its apparent small size, it seemed boundless. As he explored, he repeatedly returned to his starting point, confirming his suspicion of a deeper mystery. His wandering led him to the forbidden zone, where he serendipitously reunited with Dengdeng. The father and daughter then worked together to sneak into the forbidden area. Inside, the forbidden zone was scenic but yielded no immediate clues.
Paralyzed Yu, after careful observation, realized it was a Guardian Formation. He could not locate its eye and concluded that only the person who set the formation would know its exact location. Considering Wei Du's apparent hatred for the Spirit Clan and his mortal nature lacking the necessary energy to sustain such a formation, Dengdeng made a daring hypothesis: Wei Du might be colluding with Zhu Rong. Concurrently, Lu Yan made his own discoveries.
He found that the Dust-proof Bead could not absorb or release energy, leading him to believe that the city's inhabitants owed their extended lives to the very formation Dengdeng had discovered, likely set by Zhu Rong. As they discussed this, Dahai's stomach began to rumble, prompting an apology for his earlier trip to the kitchen where stale food upset him.
He then recounted a peculiar incident at the latrine: he saw someone enter but never exit, and upon checking, found no one inside. Dengdeng revealed that Paralyzed Yu had experienced a similar phenomenon, further solidifying her suspicion that this was not mere surveillance but something else entirely. She decided she would personally investigate the matter the next day.
Lu Yan, after revealing that Mei was now safely housed in the General Mansion and should be taken to Baile Village when they left, expressed his intent to secure the Dust-proof Bead for Dengdeng and arrange their escape while he stayed behind to handle the aftermath. Dengdeng, though concerned, trusted his judgment and agreed to wait for him in Baile Village.
Later that night, Zhu Rong appeared before Wei Du, reminding him that Lu Yan's Energy Core was destined to return to Dengdeng, an act that would result in Lu Yan's death. Wei Du, though shaken by this revelation, tried to distance himself from Zhu Rong, but Zhu Rong vanished, confident his words had planted a seed of doubt.
Recognizing that any further actions against Dengdeng would anger Lu Yan, Wei Du instead ordered Mei, who was still unconscious from a sedative, to be taken to Lu Yan's room. Lu Yan returned to find the sleeping Mei there. After he confirmed she was merely sedated and unharmed, Lu Yan allowed her to rest in his room and chose to retreat to his study to continue his investigations. Xin, however, quickly relayed the situation to Dengdeng.
Dengdeng summoned Lu Yan, who asked what she wanted. Without a word, she grabbed his collar and pulled him into her room. Lu Yan was taken aback by her uncharacteristic behavior. Dengdeng simply told him to make her bed, dismissing the perfectly made bed by others as not to her liking. Xin, smiling knowingly, discreetly closed the door and left.
Realizing she knew about Mei, Lu Yan hastily explained that Wei Du had acted on his own initiative, and the woman in his room was Mei from Baile Village who had helped them. Dengdeng, cutting him off, declared her ownership of him and, after instructing Xin to inform Wei Du that Lu Yan would stay with her that night and to warn Dahai not to gossip to her father, pulled Lu Yan to bed.
As they lay together, they reminisced about past events. Dengdeng playfully asked if he remembered the first time they were on a bed together, then commented on his scholarly room, assuming a general would prefer weapons. Lu Yan explained that after witnessing so much bloodshed on the battlefield, he preferred a peaceful home environment.
Dengdeng promised that when they returned to Qingquan Stronghold, she would arrange a separate courtyard for him where he could live a peaceful life pursuing scholarly interests. They both acknowledged having new discoveries they wanted to share with each other.
Episode 29 Recap
Lu Yan and Yu Dengdeng found themselves in agreement regarding their suspicions about their current situation. To avoid eavesdropping, they wrote their thoughts on each other's hands, discovering they had reached the same conclusions. Lu Yan instructed Yu Dengdeng to verify their findings the following day and then leave the city. He urged her to find a safe place to use the Dust-proof Bead to remove the spirit worm from her body, emphasizing that her safety was his primary concern.
Though worried for him, Yu Dengdeng agreed, trusting his capabilities. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi and his men arrived in Baile Village, near Lingdong. Upon entering, they observed the villagers performing a ritual, all with blank expressions, making the entire village seem eerie. Gu Beixi's men reported that the villagers refused to house outsiders and would not speak further. They decided to find an empty house for the night and seek Yu Dengdeng the next day.
Fortunately, they encountered Scholar Sun, who confirmed Yu Dengdeng’s group had gone into the mountains in search of the Dust-proof Bead. Sun shared that Mei, the missing wife of the Zhang family, had been helpful to him and asked Gu Beixi to rescue her. Gu Beixi agreed, acknowledging that Mei and the others were important to him, and arranged for his men to search for Yu Dengdeng’s whereabouts.
Early the next morning, Paralyzed Yu confronted Yu Dengdeng, having heard from Dahai that she and Lu Yan had seemingly spent the night together. Yu Dengdeng quickly reassured her father that their interaction was a mere pretense to deceive Wei Du. Lv Er arrived, interrupting their argument and inviting them to breakfast. Yu Dengdeng immediately stopped them, suspecting the food was tainted.
She then revealed her and Lu Yan’s plan, instructing everyone to split up and gather evidence to confirm their theory. Dahai approached a group of soldiers he had previously played dice with, but they showed no recollection of their past game or even their shared experience in the underground palace. He also noticed that a leg injury one of the soldiers had sustained previously was now completely gone.
Separately, Xin visited a weapons workshop, seeking a specific green sword that Yu Dengdeng had supposedly purchased earlier. The shopkeeper, however, declared it a priceless treasure, not for sale, implying he had no memory of the previous transaction. Dahai later passed a family celebrating a baby's one-month birthday. He found it peculiar, as he recalled them holding the same celebration for a baby also named Liu Jin just recently.
This confirmed his suspicions about the repetitive nature of life in the city. Yu Dengdeng’s own investigations around the city corroborated their shared hypothesis. The people of the Ancient Shu City performed the same actions daily, forgetting everything from the previous day – their sold goods, their injuries, even the names they gave their grandchildren. She pondered whether the food and people were mere illusions, yet she had experienced them as living beings.
Yu Dengdeng managed to relay her findings to Lu Yan using a hairpin. Soon after, Wei Du presented the Dust-proof Bead to Lu Yan, asking him to infuse it with energy. Wei Du expressed concern that the bead might lack sufficient energy for the upcoming Enthronement Ceremony, which could lead to aging, illness, and ultimately chaos among the city’s inhabitants. Lu Yan silently infused the bead with energy.
He then requested that Wei Du remove all guards around Yu Dengdeng, claiming he wished to take her on a tour of the city before his enthronement, as he feared he would be too busy afterward. This was a strategic move to facilitate her escape. Lu Yan then used his energy to open a passage out of Ancient Shu City. Simultaneously, outside the city, Gu Beixi and his team were dynamiting the mountain, hearing voices from within.
Yu Dengdeng recognized Gu Beixi's voice, and with his assistance, the mountain gate was breached, allowing Yu Dengdeng and her companions to escape the city's confines. Back inside Ancient Shu City, Lu Yan wandered through the streets. He encountered Zhao Xu, a one-armed blacksmith whom both he and Wei Du had known 3,000 years prior. Zhao Xu, however, showed no recognition of Lu Yan, and his appearance remained unchanged.
Lu Yan also recalled that the impetuous horse he had ordered killed the previous day was still alive and well. Upon learning that Yu Dengdeng and the others had vanished, Wei Du frantically pursued Lu Yan, fearing he had also left. Relieved to find Lu Yan still in the city, Wei Du nevertheless proposed eliminating Yu Dengdeng to prevent her from revealing Shu’s secrets, suggesting her potential capture by Zhu Rong could pose a grave threat.
Lu Yan grew visibly displeased, pointing out that Wei Du’s current ruthlessness was a stark contrast to his past self, who would not even harm captured women and children. Wei Du apologized, attributing his hardened heart to the passage of 3,000 years. Lu Yan then asked about Zhu Rong’s whereabouts, suspecting he might be hiding in the underground palace. He decided to investigate himself, doubting Wei Du's complete loyalty due to the previous incident in Baile Village.
Outside the city, in a small courtyard, Paralyzed Yu successfully extracted the spirit worm from Yu Dengdeng using the Dust-proof Bead, though the worm quickly vanished. Yu Dengdeng remained unconscious, her energy and essence severely depleted, but she continued to call out Lu Yan's name in her delirium. Mei, also rescued from the underground palace, was disoriented and spoke nonsensical words, repeatedly mentioning a "man-eating big tree" that had terrified her in the palace.
The Enthronement Ceremony commenced as planned in Ancient Shu City. Following a brief ritual, Wei Du presented the Dust-proof Bead to Lu Yan. To Wei Du's shock, Lu Yan crushed the bead, revealing it to be a fake. He informed Wei Du that he had entrusted the real Dust-proof Bead to Yu Dengdeng. Lu Yan then exposed the city's grim truth: for 3,000 years, nothing in Ancient Shu City had truly changed.
The inhabitants, like the blacksmith Zhao Xu and even the horse Lu Yan had ordered killed, were not truly alive but merely repeating the same day, over and over again, in an endless loop. He declared that apart from himself and Wei Du, there were no other living souls in Ancient Shu City. Overwhelmed by this revelation, Wei Du clutched his head in pain, begging Lu Yan to stop speaking.
Episode 30 Recap
Lu Yan asserted to Wei Du that, apart from the two of them, there were no other living souls in the Ancient Shu City. Wei Du watched in horror as the surrounding soldiers and horses dissolved into smoke, followed by the ancient city and its buildings, which crumbled into nothingness. Wei Du cried out for everything to return, and, as if by magic, the scene restored itself.
Wei Du, still clinging to the illusion, pleaded with Lu Yan to leave them be, begging, "General, leave us alone. Please let us do this. Let us do this." Lu Yan, recognizing Wei Du’s refusal to awaken from the dream, told him, "Wei Du, it's time to stop the dream." He revealed, "This is the formation of Zhu Rong. It makes you in an illusion, and addicted to the illusion of the past.
So all this time, it's not that you couldn't get out. but you were locked up here by Zhu Rong. But it doesn't matter. Wei Du, I'll take you out of here. Let's go." Wei Du recoiled, insisting, "Don't touch me. My memory is real. This is all fake. It's not true." Seeing Wei Du's stubborn denial, Lu Yan decided to delve into his memories, stating, "Fine. Let me see what Zhu Rong did to you!"
Lu Yan's probing revealed Wei Du’s past. After a battle, Zhu Rong found the surviving Wei Du and was surprised he was "still alive." Wei Du, recognizing Zhu Rong as a Spirit Clan member, furiously declared, "Worthless spirit clan! You're not dead? I will kill you for General." However, Zhu Rong overpowered him, saying, "It seems you don't know much about the magic of the spirit clan. I happened to have a little trouble. Help me solve it."
He then implanted a spirit worm into Wei Du, reassuring him, "Don't worry. I'll take it out soon. I just want you to do as I tell you now." Zhu Rong commanded Wei Du, "There's a village full of spirit-hunters. Go and kill them all," to which Wei Du obediently replied, "Yes." Under the influence of the spirit worm, Wei Du, with vacant eyes, massacred the villagers, old and young, as people cried out, "He's killing people! Run!"
Back in the illusion, Wei Du was overwhelmed by a severe headache, pleading with Lu Yan, whom he perceived as his general, "I've a bad headache. General. Let go of me. Let go of me, please." Lu Yan then revealed, "You have been to the Yu's Village, have you?" This revelation deeply distressed Wei Du, who claimed, "No. No. I don't remember anything. What did you see? What did I do?" He then frantically ran away.
The phantom soldiers that surrounded them seemed to reanimate, attacking Lu Yan, who effortlessly repelled them, only for them to rise again. Wei Du stumbled into the underground palace, where fragmented memories began to surface. He remembered fleeing there with his soldiers, then leaving them in a secure chamber to fight the Spirit Clan alone, vowing that the General’s soldiers “cannot die out.” He told his men to "Stay here. Don't go out within three days. . .
Come out then and collect my body," and to "live here from now on. Let your kids and your kids' kids to pass on." When he returned, his brothers had been drained and killed. Wei Du recalled how Zhu Rong found him, revealing his grand plan while keeping Wei Du in a perpetual dream state.
Zhu Rong explained his own disillusionment with the Saintess, whom he once revered but now saw as "a selfish, weak and feeble coward," and his belief that both of them had "alternative choices." Zhu Rong then informed Wei Du about the aging and mutation of his brothers' bodies and introduced the Dust-proof Bead as their only salvation.
Initially, Wei Du was reluctant to make a deal with the Spirit Clan, but Zhu Rong pressed, arguing there was "no difference between us" as they both sought to restore their nations. Wei Du’s past became agonizingly clear, and he cried out, "Zhu Rong! You made me lose my family and best friend. I've been alone for 3,000 years. You made me deceived by fake memories. I thought I still had my former subordinates. . .
I'm sorry to you all! I thought I still had an old dream and the ancient capital. Come out! Don't leave me alone. Come out and accompany me. Come out! You made me take my enemy as my friend, You made me do all wrong things and make irreparable mistakes. Zhu Rong! You set me up! You lied to me. You made me suffer a lot.
I want you to experience the taste of having what you cherish be crushed to dust." Driven by rage, Wei Du lunged at an ancient tree, but Zhu Rong suddenly appeared, acknowledging, "Looks like our vice general Wei has remembered everything," and stopped him. Meanwhile, Yu Dengdeng awakened and immediately demanded to find Lu Yan. Her disciple, Peng Dahai, tried to restrain her, reminding her of the Senior Master's instructions for her to rest.
Gu Beixi also urged her to drink the medicinal soup, highlighting that Paralyzed Yu had collected the ginseng and Lv Er had spent a whole day brewing it for her recovery. Dengdeng reluctantly complied but insisted on going, arguing with Paralyzed Yu that Lu Yan, a man of his word, must be in trouble since he hadn't sent a message. She declared, "Lu Yan gave me my life. He also took us to find the Dust-proof Bead.
People should be grateful. You taught me this, right?" Paralyzed Yu feigned agreement, leading Gu Beixi outside, then locked Dengdeng in the room. Dengdeng, recovering and unable to fully utilize her energy, struggled to open the locked door. Gu Beixi later returned to the locked room, and Dengdeng tried to persuade him to let her out, but he responded, "I don't dare to offend your father."
After a long conversation, Gu Beixi agreed to release her on one condition: she must take him along. He revealed that Bai Shiqi "was killed by the spirit clan who escaped from the Yingdu City" after being captured by Xiongya Stronghold members. He admitted, "It's all my fault. She trusted me so much. Am I really worthy of her trust? I was wrong too."
He pondered the nature of Spirit Clan members, observing, "You are one of the members of the spirit clan. So are Xin and Daidai. But you are all good people. But those who killed others are also spirit beings. They can easily turn against each other and kill innocent people." He concluded that "both humans and the spirit clan, everyone has their own difficulties. But difficulties can't be the reasons for evil. . .
As long as we can protect the weak, punish the evil and praise the good, both the spirit beings and humans are worthy of admiration." Gu Beixi stated his desire to personally investigate the Spirit Clan's matters, especially since "Shiqi is waiting for us to avenge her." Dengdeng then recalled Xiao Mei mentioning a "man-eating tree" in a house, and they decided to question the Tongyangxi. Xiao Mei confirmed, "There are vines and a tree. . . It eats humans."
Realizing this might point to a Spirit Clan presence in the underground palace, Dengdeng and Gu Beixi promptly set off to find Lu Yan and convey this critical information. Dengdeng and Gu Beixi arrived at Ancient Shu City, but Dengdeng was unable to contact Lu Yan, noting, "The energy is in chaos here. I can't reach him." As they navigated the unsettling city, where citizens stood motionless like puppets, Gu Beixi observed, "This is so creepy. . .
They don't have eye contact with each other. They don't even talk." Meanwhile, Lu Yan was engaged in a fierce battle against the puppet-like soldiers controlled by Zhu Rong. Lu Yan found himself at a loss, exclaiming, "How could it be? In such a huge formation, there's no trace of the center of the formation." Suddenly, Zhu Rong appeared, taunting, "General Lu, look at your good vice general. How is your loyal lackey now? He's quite tough.
Although he has dozens of wounds, he is still alive." Wei Du, battered and chained, was paraded through the streets by more puppets. Despite his pain, Wei Du warned Lu Yan, "General, leave me alone. Zhu Rong. He just wants to consume your energy, and kill you when you're exhausted. General, finding the center of the formation is the only way to break the illusion." Lu Yan defiantly challenged Zhu Rong, "Zhu Rong.
Your energy is all used on the illusionary formation, right? Otherwise, why do you only dare to hide? You can only use these dirty tricks. Come out! Come out!" Lu Yan quickly moved to rescue the severely wounded Wei Du, who urged him, "General. Leave me alone."
Episode 31 Recap
Lu Yan found Wei Du, who was surrounded by Zhu Rong's puppets. Wei Du urged Lu Yan to leave, explaining that the puppets were endless. However, Lu Yan insisted they leave together. Zhu Rong mocked their profound brotherhood, then declared his intention to reveal Lieutenant Wei's true colors to Lu Yan. The entire Ancient Shu City transformed into ruins, shrouded in darkness, with white snow falling. Dengdeng, confused by the sudden change, recognized the scene as Yu's Village.
She witnessed a blood-soaked Wei Du, his eyes emotionless, slaughtering the villagers. Dengdeng's mother desperately pleaded with him to stop killing, but Wei Du, seemingly in a murderous frenzy, killed her with a single swing of his sword, staining the white snow crimson. Zhu Rong's voice echoed, taunting Wei Du as a coward who claimed to protect humans but ultimately served him to survive. Wei Du roared, accusing Zhu Rong of manipulating him.
Zhu Rong countered, asserting that Wei Du himself had committed the killings, taking the lives of Dengdeng's entire family. Dengdeng trembled, unable to process the horrifying truth: Wei Du was her mother's killer. Consumed by rage, she raised her gun at Wei Du, but her entire body shook, preventing her from pulling the trigger. Gu Beixi intervened, reminding her that killing Wei Du would only fulfill Zhu Rong's desire.
Wei Du, unable to bear the truth, attempted to take his own life by putting his sword to his throat, but Lu Yan swiftly stopped him. Suddenly, the city reverted to its previous state, but the residents had transformed into monstrous figures, charging towards Dengdeng and Gu Beixi. Lu Yan urged Wei Du, if he truly regretted his actions, to join him in defeating Zhu Rong and avenging the innocent. Wei Du, resolute, decided to pull himself together.
He explained to Lu Yan that he felt tremendous guilt for his actions against Yu Dengdeng's family and the villagers and wished to atone by helping to find Dengdeng. Lu Yan agreed, also explaining that he had planted a soul-tracing technique within Dengdeng's energy, which had since integrated into Zhu Rong's. By following the flow of this energy, they could locate the formation's core.
As Zhu Rong was busy repairing the formation, Lu Yan located him by following the energy's fluctuations. Zhu Rong revealed he was aware of Lu Yan's tactic and countered by expanding the formation to encompass Baile Village, threatening everyone's lives if the core wasn't found quickly. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi, affected by the formation's illusions, became disoriented and tried to embrace Dengdeng. Dengdeng quickly bit her finger and smeared her blood on his face, snapping him out of the trance.
She then realized her blood was pointing towards the formation's core, which led them to an underground palace. Before they could find the mechanism to enter, they were attacked by Ghost Vines. Suddenly, Wei Du appeared, slicing through the vines and allowing them all to tumble into a secret room. Once safe, Dengdeng was shocked to see Wei Du. Her hatred for her mother's killer was immense, but she suppressed her fury for Lu Yan's sake.
Wei Du acknowledged his unforgivable past but pleaded with Dengdeng, arguing that saving her was vital to Lu Yan, who would lose all meaning in life if anything happened to her. Dengdeng, still enraged, conceded that she would kill him the next time they met. As Dengdeng and Gu Beixi moved deeper into the palace, Wei Du stayed behind, drawing his sword to fight the Ghost Vines and cover their retreat.
Lost in twisting corridors, Dengdeng used her wit to find small fireflies, which she believed were incarnations of the spirits of ancient people and could lead the way. She implored them to guide her to the formation's core. The fireflies seemingly understood, leading them to another secret room containing a large, ancient tree that absorbed life energy. Dengdeng realized this tree was responsible for the villagers' expressionless state.
Touching the tree, she was instantly pulled into an illusion where she saw a woman who called her Yun Xi being ensnared by Ghost Vines. Gu Beixi's shouts woke her, and she found her face streaked with tears. Realizing this was another of Zhu Rong's tricks, she quickly used her blood to break the formation within the tree. The secret room began to shake violently, threatening to collapse.
Dengdeng and Gu Beixi rushed out, but Wei Du was nowhere to be seen, only a pool of blood on the ground. Gu Beixi deduced that Wei Du must have fought until his last moment before being dragged away by the Ghost Vines. Outside, Dengdeng and Gu Beixi reunited with Lu Yan, joining him in confronting Zhu Rong. Dengdeng, using her unique abilities, dipped a bullet in her blood and shot Zhu Rong, leaving him astonished.
Just then, Uncle Yu arrived, distributing blood-dipped talismans to everyone and instructing them to place them at the city's four cardinal points to set up a new formation. As Uncle Yu began his ritual, the Ghost Vines dramatically emerged from the ground, carrying Wei Du's body.
Episode 32 Recap
As Lu Yan, Dengdeng, Gu Beixi, and Paralyzed Yu confronted Zhu Rong, Wei Du's emaciated body slowly rose from a crevice. Zhu Rong held Wei Du hostage, pressuring Lu Yan to surrender his Energy Core. " Do you want to save the people outside or your loyal admirer?" Zhu Rong sneered, reminding Lu Yan that Wei Du, despite being tortured by Ghost Vines in the underground palace, had remained fiercely loyal to Dengdeng, calling him a "loyal dog."
Zhu Rong demanded the Energy Core from Lu Yan, promising to spare their lives. Wei Du, barely clinging to life, urged Lu Yan not to listen to Zhu Rong's "slander." Taunting him, Zhu Rong added, "If you don't save him, he will really die." Zhu Rong then dared Lu Yan to make a move, threatening that his Ghost Vines were faster. Just then, soldier puppets rushed forward. Seeing this, Paralyzed Yu quickly cast a spell, immobilizing Zhu Rong.
Dengdeng, seeing her father's quick action, exclaimed that he was "really something." Lu Yan seized the opportunity, rushing forward to rescue Wei Du. Wei Du, addressing Lu Yan as "General," was quickly attended to by Dengdeng. With Zhu Rong temporarily restrained, he consumed his energy to break free and escaped to the underground palace. Lu Yan and Paralyzed Yu immediately set off in pursuit, while Dengdeng promised to care for Wei Du.
Zhu Rong, having escaped to a secret chamber, performed a blood sacrifice to an ancient tree. As he did so, he spoke of it being the last thing he could do, expressing that seeing the mysterious woman reappear to rebuild the glory of the Spirit Clan, even at the cost of his own life, was enough for him. Soon after, a woman descended. This woman was the same one Dengdeng had seen in her dreams.
Wei Du, witnessing these ominous events, declared, "Oh no. It's all over," observing the "purple thunder from the east," "clouds rolling in," and "wind rising," announcing that "The Black Saintess is here!" A confused Dengdeng questioned who the Black Saintess was. Wei Du explained that the Black Saintess was a life-absorbing monster, an evil spirit that Dengdeng, in her past incarnation as Yun Xi, had sealed in the Divine Tree three thousand years ago.
Zhu Rong had found and nourished her in the underground palace, continually seeking ways to revive her. He warned that if the Black Saintess was fully revived, "everything will be devoured," and "darkness and shadows will rule the land." Dengdeng then had a vivid and disturbing vision of Yun Xi screaming for help. Dengdeng remembered seeing this woman in the underground palace. When Dengdeng suggested she could seal the Black Saintess again, Wei Du revealed the grim truth.
Sealing the Black Saintess required the power of an Energy Core, and that core was currently within Lu Yan. Wei Du tearfully explained that while Lu Yan's greatest wish for three millennia had been to return the Energy Core to Dengdeng, doing so would cause his body and soul to vanish into ashes. He then revealed the only alternative: "The Black Saintess has the same root as you. . . If you want to save the world, unless. . .
you die, then she can't live." Wei Du spoke of their intertwined destiny and the past sacrifices made by Lu Yan, emphasizing that Lu Yan, having suffered so much, deserved to "enjoy this peaceful life." Recognizing Dengdeng's love for Lu Yan, Wei Du left her to make her own difficult choice, apologizing for his past "evil deeds." Lu Yan arrived at the secret chamber to find Zhu Rong already dead, his body disintegrating into ash.
He rushed back to the altar, reaching Wei Du just in time for his final moments. Lu Yan desperately tried to save him, but Wei Du stopped him, stating, "Stop saving me. I've been living too painfully for the past 3,000 years. Leaving now is a relief." Wei Du then revealed his long-held secret: he had become immortal by accident, stained with the blood of the Golden Crow Saintess.
He recounted how, taking advantage of Zhu Rong's distraction, he had rescued his soldiers, only for the Spirit Clan to chase them into the underground palace, leaving him the sole survivor. For three millennia, he had lived as a "ghost wandering around in this ruins," devoid of anyone to cherish. He lamented being used and conned by Zhu Rong, who forced him to slaughter villagers and erased his memories, leaving him "doomed."
His last words to Lu Yan were, "General, seeing you again is the only reason for me to live for 3,000 years. . . You take care." As Lu Yan grieved over Wei Du, the entire Ancient Shu City crumbled into dust. After traveling through the night, Dengdeng and her companions finally returned to Qingquan Stronghold. During their absence, a man named Da Qian had been managing the stronghold.
His men were gambling and joking, with Da Qian proudly asserting his temporary leadership. When a scout reported a group approaching in the dark, Da Qian, assuming it was a rival stronghold attempting a surprise attack, rallied his men to confront them. However, they soon discovered it was Dengdeng and her group. Da Qian, surprised and relieved, greeted Dengdeng and Paralyzed Yu. The stronghold immediately prepared a welcoming feast.
At the banquet, Dengdeng held Lu Yan's hand, drawing whispers from the others, while the villagers teased Lu Yan, offering him "kidney" for vitality. Dengdeng inquired about the stronghold's management, and Da Qian was lauded for his meticulous care of the animals. When pressed about the stronghold's finances, Da Qian humbly deferred to Dengdeng, suggesting his expertise lay in internal affairs. After a toast, Da Qian and others excused themselves to tend to their duties.
Dengdeng, barely eating, urged Lu Yan to finish quickly, stating they had "very important" business to attend to. Despite Lu Yan's surprise at her haste, Dengdeng, declaring herself full after only a few bites, pulled him away from the feast. Dengdeng led Lu Yan to a tree, promising to show him a "treasure." Lu Yan, curious but skeptical, questioned what treasure could be found there. Dengdeng took out a shovel and began to dig. Soon, she unearthed a cloth-wrapped package.
After carefully brushing off the dirt, she handed it to Lu Yan, asking him to guess its contents. When Lu Yan guessed "a piece of cloth," Dengdeng prompted him to guess again. She then opened the cloth to reveal a box, which Lu Yan promptly identified. Dengdeng then revealed that the box contained a letter addressed to Lu Yan.
She explained that when she was little, her fathers used to joke that because she was so smart, any man who married her would be incredibly lucky. So, they had written this letter long ago and buried it under the tree, intending it for their future son-in-law, hoping he would take good care of her. Dengdeng, having long decided that Lu Yan was that man, declared, "I chose you long ago."
Under the starry night, Dengdeng, leaning her head on Lu Yan's shoulder, shared her dreams for their future. She envisioned them living a carefree life in Qingquan Stronghold, where she would manage their home while he pursued his leisurely interests. She expressed her gratitude for having met him, admitting her initial attraction to his looks but affirming her deep love for him after all they had endured. Lu Yan, noting her newfound maturity, opened the letter.
Dengdeng, brimming with anticipation, expected heartfelt advice, but instead, Lu Yan read a comical warning from her fathers: "Son-in-law, Dengdeng is good at kung fu. Take care of yourself after marrying her." Dengdeng, realizing she had been pranked by her "two old men," was furious and demanded they rewrite the letter. Lu Yan, however, playfully refused to return it, claiming she couldn't take it back with her current ability and that he would keep it safe.
He then urged her to rest after their arduous journey. Meanwhile, the Black Saintess performed a ritual before Yun Xi's ancient tree, causing withered trees to bloom once more. Separately, Gu Beixi told his subordinate, Wan Lishan, to set up a memorial for Bai Shiqi, assuming she was dead. He also resolved to raid Xiongya Stronghold the next day to settle a score. Suddenly, they heard a commotion nearby. Gu Beixi investigated and found bandits robbing medical personnel.
He confronted the bandits, declaring that he wouldn't tolerate bullying the old, weak, or children. After forcing the bandits to retreat, he checked on the medical staff. To his astonishment, one of the women was Bai Shiqi, alive and well. Overjoyed and relieved, they embraced tightly, both exclaiming, "Long time no see." Bai Shiqi thanked Gu Beixi for saving her multiple times and recounted her harrowing escape from Xiongya Stronghold, where she was targeted by a Spirit being.
She credited a gun he had given her with saving her life. Gu Beixi remarked on her significant transformation, noting she was no longer the "Miss Bai" he knew but a more mature and resilient Bai Shiqi, now serving as medical personnel. As she excused herself to attend to her duties, she advised him to get his wounds dressed later.
Back at Qingquan Stronghold, Dengdeng and her fathers were discussing the unseasonably strange weather, when one of the men rushed in with alarming news: Da Qian had taken several brothers to Hongqing Stronghold for a competition and they were "about to lose. . . Someone's dying."
Episode 33 Recap
Daqian and his brothers went to Hongqing Stronghold for a fighting contest, but they were on the verge of losing, with lives potentially at stake. A distressed messenger rushed back to Qingquan Stronghold, informing Dengdeng. Dengdeng, who deeply disliked Hongqing Stronghold's unscrupulous tactics, was enraged to learn her people were being bullied. She immediately set off for Hongqing Stronghold, with Lu Yan following closely behind her.
They arrived just as Hongqing Stronghold's Third Brother was about to shoot Daqian during the "Courage Battle," where contestants pointed guns at each other's heads. Dengdeng intervened, demanding they stop. Hongqing Stronghold's leader not only refused to back down but also insulted her, questioning if her stronghold was run by a woman. Angered, Dengdeng smashed a table with her palm and declared she would fight them. The Hongqing chieftain then provocatively challenged Dengdeng with his gun.
As Dengdeng moved to accept, Lu Yan sensed something amiss and stepped in for her, catching the bullet with his bare hand. Witnessing Lu Yan's supernatural feat, the Hongqing Stronghold members panicked and conceded defeat. However, as everyone turned to leave, the Hongqing chieftain attempted a sneak attack. Lu Yan, sensing the danger, used his powers to magically block the gun's barrel. Furious, Dengdeng snatched the gun and pointed it at the chieftain's head.
Her own people from Qingquan Stronghold pleaded with her to stop, and Dengdeng eventually relented, sparing the chieftain's life. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi brought some of his men to assist at a medical team's outpost, where he found Seventeen. He asked her why she hadn't come to him after her escape from the temple.
Seventeen explained that after fleeing the shabby temple, she collapsed and was rescued by a village doctor who also taught her medical skills, enabling her to help others. When she asked about his relationship with Dengdeng, Gu Beixi assured her that he and Dengdeng were now the best of friends, and Dengdeng was happily in love with Lu Yan, leading him to believe he might soon become an uncle. He claimed to have completely moved on from her.
However, Gu Beixi's boisterous men, with guns strapped to their waists, scared away patients and even mistakenly used Seventeen's hard-found medicinal herbs as firewood. Exasperated, Seventeen kicked them all out. Undeterred, Gu Beixi sent his men away but remained outside the medical outpost himself, determined to stay. That night, amidst a fierce thunderstorm with purple lightning, Dengdeng was tormented by a nightmare.
In her dream, she saw many dead faces, and then the Black Saintess appeared, her eyes filled with murderous intent, advancing menacingly towards her. The Black Saintess, sensing Dengdeng's distress and the recent events at Hongqing Stronghold, had already begun to put her plan into motion. Dengdeng woke with a start, calling out. Lu Yan, noticing her distress, rushed into her room.
Dengdeng, still shaken, clung to him and vaguely described her nightmare, mentioning "many dead people" and "purple thunder," though she claimed she couldn't remember much. Lu Yan, sensing a deeper issue, promised to stay with her for the night. The next morning, mournful cries echoed through Qingquan Stronghold. Dengdeng and Lu Yan investigated, finding all the penned livestock—chickens, ducks, and pigs—dead, their enclosures damaged by the previous night's thunder.
Dengdeng tried to revive them with her energy but collapsed from exhaustion. Lu Yan quickly caught her and successfully restored the animals to life. Soon after, Gu Beixi arrived, bringing the welcome news that Seventeen was alive. He also delivered a shocking report: the entire Hongqing Stronghold had mysteriously died overnight. Dengdeng was disturbed by this uncanny coincidence with her dream but kept her thoughts to herself. Lu Yan and Xin immediately went to Hongqing Stronghold to investigate.
They discovered that all the deceased bodies strangely lacked shadows. Xin then pointed out a large eclipse totem on a wall. He recognized it from three thousand years ago, when Yun Xi had sealed her Dark Spirit in the ancient sacred tree on the other side of the East Sea to end the human-spirit conflict. Lu Yan realized that Zhu Rong must have resurrected the Black Saintess, Yun Xi's evil spirit.
Xin further explained that if the evil spirit broke free and reappeared, it would not only devour Yun Xi (now Dengdeng) and become her shadow, but also gain immense energy, bringing about a world-ending disaster. Lu Yan connected this to Dengdeng's unusually faint shadow and her recent uncharacteristic fury towards Hongqing Stronghold, confirming that the Black Saintess had begun her sinister work. Lu Yan and Xin quickly traveled to the East Sea, where they confronted the Black Saintess.
Lu Yan initiated an attack, but the Black Saintess revealed a startling truth: she and Yun Xi were "one body, same root," inextricably linked. If he harmed her, Dengdeng would suffer the same injury; if he killed her, Dengdeng would also die. The Black Saintess declared her intention to fully devour Yun Xi and turn the world into a shadow beneath her feet. Upon hearing this, Lu Yan ceased his attack.
They rushed back to Qingquan Mountain, only to find Dengdeng unconscious and bleeding from her mouth. Seventeen's explanation of what had happened to Dengdeng confirmed the Black Saintess's words, validating the perilous connection between the two. Lu Yan quickly brought Dengdeng back to Qingquan Stronghold for treatment. After Lu Yan provided her with a large amount of energy, Dengdeng regained consciousness after three hours. Feigning a swift recovery, she insisted that everyone leave her room to rest.
However, once alone, Dengdeng's face contorted in excruciating pain. Lu Yan later confessed his concerns to Xin, revealing that despite his extensive efforts, Dengdeng's shadow was growing fainter, and nearly half of her vital energy was depleted. Xin worried that Dengdeng might be completely consumed by the Black Saintess.
Episode 34 Recap
Lu Yan carefully examined Dengdeng’s condition, revealing that her shadow was growing increasingly faint and nearly half of her vital energy, blood, and veins were depleted. He noted that even his continuous replenishment of energy would soon prove insufficient. Faced with this grim reality, Lu Yan resolved to sacrifice his own energy core to save her. Witnessing his decision, Xin was overcome with self-reproach and sorrow.
Xin desperately pleaded with Lu Yan to reconsider, worried about the immense sacrifice and the burden it would place on Dengdeng. However, Lu Yan's determination was unwavering. He reminded Xin that Yun Xi had once given him her energy core, and he would not stand by as she suffered again.
He stated that this matter concerned the safety of the world, a belief he and Yun Xi had upheld for three thousand years, and thus, either Dengdeng or he must make the ultimate sacrifice. Xin, though heartbroken, ultimately yielded to Lu Yan’s resolve. Unbeknownst to Lu Yan, Dengdeng was privately grappling with her worsening health and terrifying nightmares.
Confiding only in her rooster, Dahong, she spoke of the Black Saintess’s resurgence and how Wei Du’s prophecies of shadows ruling the land were coming true. Dengdeng confessed her fear, as people she dreamt of dying would indeed perish the next day, making her question if she or the Black Saintess was responsible.
With her own shadow fading and recent attacks from the Black Saintess, Dengdeng made a secret decision to sacrifice herself, believing that if she died, the Black Saintess could not survive. She worried that if Lu Yan knew, he would try to save her by sacrificing his energy core, a fate she wanted to prevent. Therefore, she resolved to spend her remaining days happily with her loved ones, particularly Lu Yan, without revealing her true intentions.
She felt deeply sorry for them, knowing they would be sad, but felt she had no choice. One evening, as Dengdeng stood lost in thought, Lu Yan approached her and gently draped a coat over her shoulders. She shared with him her reflections after seeing Bai Shiqi and Gu Beixi’s joyful reunion, a moment that made her understand the feeling of "getting back what was lost."
She wished them future happiness, noting Gu Beixi’s hidden affection for Miss Bai despite his stubborn exterior. Sensing her unspoken desire for a more formal union, Lu Yan asked, "Let's get married." Dengdeng, startled but delighted that he had discerned her thoughts, playfully accused him of eavesdropping. Lu Yan confessed that he knew her heart. As they gazed at a shooting star, they made wishes.
Dengdeng remarked on the meteor's fleeting beauty, to which Lu Yan replied that brief things often possess the most splendor, suggesting they cherish the moment. She then affectionately traced his features, admiring his handsome eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth, playfully declaring him "handsome everywhere" as the man she had chosen. With a flourish, Lu Yan conjured a shower of albizia flowers, explaining their significance in Shu as symbols of enduring love and marital bliss, echoing his parents' lifelong devotion.
He then formally proposed to Dengdeng, saying, "It's been a thousand years since we met in ancient times. It's a blessing that you like me in this life. You know my love. Please be my wife. Dengdeng, from now on, I, Lu Yan, am willing to accompany you as your husband. Will you marry me?" Tears of joy streamed down Dengdeng's face as she cried, "Yes!" and embraced him tightly amidst the blooming albizia.
The next day, Dengdeng informed Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er of her decision to marry Lu Yan again, officially, the day after tomorrow. Both fathers were initially outraged by the haste and lack of consultation. Lv Er, despite some initial objections about the rushed timing, eventually supported the idea, suggesting a wedding might bring good luck after Dengdeng’s recent fright. Paralyzed Yu, however, remained vehemently opposed, accusing Lu Yan of being too presumptive.
Dengdeng affectionately defended Lu Yan, teasing her father about his own courtship and playfully calling Lu Yan a valuable "antique" hero, just as he was Ancient Shu’s great general. She earnestly expressed her deep love, confessing her lifelong dream of wearing an embroidered red wedding dress and being married to her hero, a dream Lu Yan fulfilled. Moved by her sincerity and Lv Er's emotional reaction, Paralyzed Yu finally relented. Later, Paralyzed Yu spoke privately with Lu Yan.
He recounted Dengdeng’s childhood without her mother and his initial dislike of Lu Yan, fearing he would take her away. However, after observing Lu Yan, he now considered him a man worthy of entrusting Dengdeng’s life to. Paralyzed Yu blessed their union, asking Lu Yan to promise never to hurt Dengdeng and to tell him if his love ever faded, so he could bring his daughter home. Lu Yan solemnly vowed to protect Dengdeng with his life.
Meanwhile, Lv Er, observing the persistently cloudy sky, worried it was a bad omen, but Dengdeng dismissed his concerns. She later told Xin that she planned a surprise for Lu Yan at the wedding, asking him to ensure Lu Yan was prepared. Xin, still sad but committed, promised to prepare the most beautiful bridal sedan and encourage Lu Yan to be more expressive. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi attempted to help Bai Shiqi, but she maintained her distance.
Bai Shiqi explained that she felt his kindness stemmed from guilt over her family's past and that she didn't want to misunderstand his feelings, preferring they remain just friends. Later, Bai Shiqi delivered a package of makeup to Dengdeng, playfully sending Gu Beixi away, calling it a "girls' secret."
Lu Yan presented the stronghold with lavish betrothal gifts, including livestock, fertile land, gold, as well as provisions for a school and a clinic in Qingquan Mountain, demonstrating his deep vision for the village's future prosperity, education, and health. Paralyzed Yu and the other villagers were deeply impressed by Lu Yan's thoughtful and generous offerings. Dengdeng, touched by Lu Yan's efforts, thanked him for doing so much for her.
He simply replied that it was his duty, having no personal need for such wealth. Dengdeng then put on a magnificent embroidered red wedding dress, looking so radiant that she felt it made her truly appear as a wife beside her husband. After the ceremony, Dengdeng suggested they all go shopping for clothes down the mountain. Gu Beixi, noticing Lu Yan and Dengdeng's affectionate behavior, decided to take Bai Shiqi elsewhere, promising her a surprise.
Episode 35 Recap
Yu Dengdeng and Lu Yan, dressed in radiant red wedding attire, posed for their wedding photos. Someone complimented Yu Dengdeng, calling her "Chief Yu" and praising her fairy-like beauty, saying, "Only you can make our wedding gown look prettier." Yu Dengdeng happily asked, "With this wedding gown, I guess I'm the most beautiful bride in Qingquan Town, right?" Lu Yan affirmed, "Of course, my bride is the most beautiful one." Yu Dengdeng then complimented him, "You, too.
You're the best husband in the world." Before their photoshoot, Yu Dengdeng asked Lu Yan if the king had ever forced him into marriage three thousand years ago when he was a General of the Shu Kingdom. Lu Yan denied it, explaining that he was too preoccupied with battles to consider such matters. Yu Dengdeng teasingly remarked that this meant she was his first love, and he was just like any young man in love.
She wondered why he always acted so profound in front of her. Lu Yan smiled, saying he was indeed older and knew everything she was thinking, which naturally made him seem more profound. Lu Yan offered to fulfill any wish for Yu Dengdeng that day. She quickly wished to dance with him, explaining that while their wedding was traditional, modern girls danced with their loved ones to feel each other's heartbeats.
Lu Yan reminded her that he could already hear her heartbeat and discern all her emotions, whether she was happy, sad, nervous, or angry. He took her hand and led her to an open space, placing his hand gently on her waist as they danced. Yu Dengdeng then asked what he felt her mood was. Lu Yan replied, "Your heart is beating faster because you're dancing with me."
In a moment of quiet reflection, Yu Dengdeng asked Lu Yan to promise to live well for himself in the future. Lu Yan, gazing at her, murmured, "It turns out this is the love of human beings. People can really die for their beloved ones."
He thanked her for appearing in his life, making him feel no longer alone, and for sharing happiness and difficulties with him, concluding, "No matter in the past, right now, or in the future, it's so good to have you." Despite the romantic setting, both held unspoken thoughts. Meanwhile, Gu Beixi, knowing that Bai Shiqi had lost everything when her family suffered misfortune, had Chief Bai's photograph developed.
He had discovered it while organizing his own father's belongings and wanted to give it to Bai Shiqi as a cherished keepsake. Upon receiving the photo, Bai Shiqi was overcome with emotion and wept. Gu Beixi told her, "You must miss your father very much," and promised to take her to his grave in a few days to burn incense. Bai Shiqi, deeply moved, thanked him.
Later, they arrived at a clothing store and learned that Yu Dengdeng and Lu Yan had already left for their photoshoot. Gu Beixi suggested they not bother the couple, but Bai Shiqi wanted to look around anyway. As Gu Beixi picked out fabrics to make a new dress for Bai Shiqi, she confronted him, asking what he was doing and if he thought he was her father.
She suspected he was trying to compensate her due to guilt over her family's tragedy. Bai Shiqi explained that she was happy with his gesture but didn't need compensation if his heart still belonged to Yu Dengdeng. She asserted, "I can afford to let go. And I told you before that I have you in my heart. It has nothing to with whether you love me or not."
Unable to make her understand, Gu Beixi, frustrated, pulled her out of the shop. He then knelt before Chief Bai's photograph and swore a solemn oath: "Heaven and earth are my witnesses. Mountains and rivers are my alliance. I, Gu Beixi, swear to Uncle Bai today. From now on, Bai Shiqi and I will share weal and woe together. We'll share meat and drink with each other.
We don't wish to be born on the same day, but to die on the same day." He promised to take good care of her. Bai Shiqi, touched by his sincerity, finally said, "Yes," when he asked if she believed him now. That evening, Yu Dengdeng brought wine to Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er. Upon her arrival, they jokingly asked if she had done something wrong, noting the thunder and advising her not to stay up late before her wedding.
Yu Dengdeng then offered to let her father, Paralyzed Yu, drink his fill, as he often complained about her not allowing him to drink. She cautioned Lv Er to drink less due to his lower tolerance. Sensing her sadness, Paralyzed Yu asked, "What's wrong with you? Tell me." Yu Dengdeng, fighting back tears, said, "Nothing. I just don't want to leave you two."
She then started giving them instructions, asking Lv Er to look after her hot-tempered father who loved to drink and cause trouble. She also urged Lv Er to take care of his own health, saying he "never listens to me." Yu Dengdeng then assured them that Lu Yan's generous betrothal gifts would sustain Qingquan Stronghold for years, and told them to buy new clothes for themselves.
Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er were touched but also worried, misunderstanding her words as if she wasn't coming back and trying to reassure her that Lu Yan was moving in with them. When Paralyzed Yu suggested she might not want to marry Lu Yan and offered to break off the engagement, Yu Dengdeng quickly stopped them. She explained that her judgment was sound, and her feelings wouldn't change.
She confessed that while she was initially drawn to Lu Yan's appearance, "I went down the mountain and experienced so many things with him. I fell in love with Lu Yan step by step." She described him as courageous and kind-hearted beneath his silent exterior. She recounted his past as a General of Ancient Shu, who sacrificed his life for his country, making him "a righteous man." She continued, "Later, Yun Xi died for him.
He left the mountain, took off his military uniform, and stayed with her for 3,000 years." She noted how he silently protected her and saved her life multiple times, calling him "a loving and great person" rarely found in thousands of years. Yu Dengdeng tearfully concluded, "So, no matter what he does wrong in the future, don't blame him." Lv Er, observing her newfound maturity, expressed his relief about her marriage, saying he could "rest in peace when I die."
Paralyzed Yu added that he had spoken with Lu Yan and could feel his genuine love for Yu Dengdeng in his eyes, believing she "can trust him forever." He warned that if Lu Yan ever dared to bully her, he and Lv Er "won't let him go." They then shared another drink, trying to talk about happier things.
Later that night, Yu Dengdeng was surprised to find Lu Yan in her room, reminding him that a bride and groom should not meet the night before their wedding. Lu Yan noted she seemed drunk and suggested she rest, but she insisted she wasn't. Yu Dengdeng then expressed her immense happiness, stating, "I haven't been so happy for years."
She reflected on their first marriage, where they were both unwilling and naive, ignorant of what it felt like to love someone. She confessed, "At that time, I was totally wrong. I thought I could make you love me by tying you up," and wondered if she had been mistaken from the very beginning. Yu Dengdeng passionately declared, "I really want to be with you forever," and lamented that they hadn't yet traveled the world together.
Lu Yan gently reassured her that there would be many opportunities for them to do so in the future. Yu Dengdeng then made a heartfelt request: "Lu Yan, can you promise me to live for yourself this time?" She pointed out that he had lived for the Ancient Shu three thousand years ago, and now, three thousand years later, he was living for her. She truly hoped he would live for himself.
Yu Dengdeng mused on how nagging she had become since meeting him, no longer "the person who can afford to let go," and playfully asked, "Tell me, have I been controlled by you?" Lu Yan thoughtfully replied, "If you hadn't met me, maybe you would still be that kind, pure, and happy Yu Dengdeng." But Yu Dengdeng countered, "Without you, I'm not complete." Soon after, Yu Dengdeng drifted into a nightmare.
She found herself in a desolate desert with a massive ancient tree, from which a vine suddenly emerged, attempting to strangle her. She awoke in a cold sweat, screaming "No," terrified and acutely aware that her remaining time was running out. The day of the formal wedding arrived, marked by ominous purple lightning in the sky. Lv Er entered Yu Dengdeng's room, teasingly asking whose daughter was getting married.
Noticing her red eyes, he joked about everyone in the stronghold crying, saying people might think she was marrying a demon. Yu Dengdeng confirmed, "He is a demon. He's an old demon who has lived for 3,000 years," to which Lv Er agreed. As he prepared to comb her hair, Yu Dengdeng fondly recalled, "Since I was young, I've always liked the hair you combed for me."
Lv Er, with tears in his eyes, performed the traditional blessing, wishing her wealth, health, longevity, and eternal love: "Let me comb your hair from the root once. You won't worry about wealth. Let me comb your hair from the root twice. You'll be healthy and carefree. Let me comb your hair from the root three times. You'll have many children and a long life." He continued, "Let me comb your hair to the end once.
You two will love each other forever. Let me comb your hair to the end twice. You two will be together forever. Let me comb your hair from root to the end. You two will live happily and wealthily ever after." Yu Dengdeng knew these blessings would not come true, and her tears flowed unchecked. The wedding ceremony proceeded with an officiant announcing, "The auspicious time has come. Bow to Heaven and Earth."
As the bride stepped over the fireworks, blessings were offered for wealth and children. The couple then bowed to their parents, receiving wishes for a harmonious family. Finally, they bowed to each other, surrounded by the joyous cheers of the crowd, and were sent to the bridal chamber. Despite the celebration, both Yu Dengdeng and Lu Yan had made the difficult decision to sacrifice themselves for the other.
Lu Yan, alone, reflected on Yun Xi: "I thought I had lost you. I lived 3,000 more years to find you after I woke up and return the energy core to you." He felt their reunion was "God's blessing" and admitted his happiness during their time together. However, he believed his destiny was to sacrifice himself to save the world, stating, "But when people are in trouble, they should be my priority. This may be our destiny.
As your husband, I'll sacrifice my life to save the world." He hoped that by getting the energy core, Yu Dengdeng could end the conflict and "live happily ever after." He reaffirmed his promise to her, "Dengdeng, I promised you that in the next life, we will be together. I, Lu Yan, won't break my promise." As the festivities continued in the main hall, Lu Yan stood by the lakeside, while Yu Dengdeng sat alone in the bridal chamber.
Both, unknown to the other, prepared for a selfless sacrifice. Lu Yan injured himself with his power, crying out in agony. Simultaneously, Yu Dengdeng raised a dagger to her chest. But just as she prepared to strike, a surge of black mist materialized, seizing her knife and drawing her into its depths. Trapped within the swirling darkness, she found herself face-to-face with the Black Saintess.
The Black Saintess declared, "Yun Xi, we finally meet," to which Yu Dengdeng gasped, "It's you." The Black Saintess mockingly stated, "Don't waste your time. You have no choice now. Your life is under my control." When Yu Dengdeng demanded to know what she was doing, the Black Saintess retorted, "You've imprisoned me for 3,000 years, pretended to be a saintess, and let the whole spirit clan linger on.
You betrayed our faith, but you ask me what I want to do?" She continued, "For the past 3,000 years, I just wanted to do one thing, which is to let you, the traitor, be imprisoned." Her ultimate goal, she revealed, was to "lead the whole spirit clan to ruin the world." The Black Saintess chillingly thanked Yun Xi for her "hypocrisy and foolishness" which "have awakened me," vowing that "The whole world will tremble because of my torture.
Pathetic human beings will become ashes in my shadow." As Yu Dengdeng desperately cried, "Let go of me!" , the Black Saintess reveled, "For the past 3,000 years, I've been waiting for this moment. To witness your despair and death."
Episode 36 (Ending) Recap
The Black Saintess violently slammed Dengdeng to the ground, declaring that once absorbed, Dengdeng would lose all consciousness, forced to watch helplessly as her loved ones and the Nine Continents spiraled into hell. Meanwhile, Lu Yan extracted the Energy Core from his body and sent it towards Dengdeng. As the core flew, Lu Yan collapsed, a faint smile on his lips, while A'xin cried out "Sir!" in anguish. The Energy Core entered Dengdeng, awakening Yun Xi's energy within her.
Yun Xi was astonished to find herself with her full power and instantly realized Lu Yan's sacrifice. She warned the Black Saintess to stop her rampage. Yun Xi recounted how three thousand years ago, the Spirit Clan wrought havoc, destroying countless homes, but it was humans who taught her love and gratitude.
The Spirit Clan once believed in the survival of the fittest, where the weak had no right to exist, but Lu Yan had shown her that weakness was not an obstacle to survival; arrogance was. Yun Xi, who had sealed her own evil spirit three thousand years prior, declared that today she would completely eradicate the Black Saintess, affirming that the Spirit Clan no longer needed her, for only love and reverence were the true laws of survival.
Panicked, the Black Saintess urged Yun Xi to save Lu Yan, trying to manipulate her with talk of love and sacrifice. But Yun Xi, enraged by her hypocrisy, told her she was unworthy of speaking about love and did not understand its true meaning. With a powerful sweep of her hand, Yun Xi severely wounded the Black Saintess.
Despite the Black Saintess's desperate resistance, she was no match for Yun Xi and was ultimately destroyed, turning into black rock and vanishing. As the Black Saintess dissipated, Dengdeng awoke. She immediately rushed to find Lu Yan. A thick snow had begun to fall, seemingly obscuring his tracks. Dengdeng stumbled towards the lake, only to find Lu Yan's hairpin lying on the ground.
She called out his name repeatedly, desperate to return his Energy Core to save him, but only silence answered her pleas. Exhausted from crying, she leaned against a bridge, the falling snow dampening her eyes. Her red wedding dress stood out vividly against the white expanse, yet it only emphasized her profound solitude and despair. One year later, Qingquan Stronghold flourished, its people enjoying a prosperous life. The harvests were abundant, ensuring no one would ever worry about food again.
Children from both inside and outside the stronghold attended school, learning to read, write, and even recite poetry, surpassing Dengdeng in their accomplishments. A clinic was established in the stronghold, and the doctor Lu Yan had hired proved to be exceptionally skilled, curing many intractable diseases, leaving everyone healthy and carefree. Paralyzed Yu and Lv Er remained their usual selves, bickering and fighting, though Lv Er had quit smoking and Paralyzed Yu drank less.
Dahai, however, was still as boisterous and fond of eating as ever. Gu Beixi and Shiqi were getting along splendidly, with their wedding expected soon. Everyone in Qingquan Stronghold knew Dengdeng was still grappling with the pain of Lu Yan's disappearance, but she kept her sorrow hidden. One day, Gu Beixi and Shiqi arrived. Recognizing Dengdeng's silent suffering, they, along with the others, decided to encourage her to drink, hoping she would finally voice her inner grief.
However, even as Paralyzed Yu became drunk and rambled incoherently, Dengdeng remained sober. Gu Beixi then sought Dengdeng, who was sitting alone on a swing chair in the backyard, drinking. He revealed that he had come to bid her farewell. For the past year, he and Shiqi had been assisting at a rescue station. Now, with war raging in the north, Shiqi intended to go there, and Gu Beixi, having promised to protect her, decided to accompany her.
Gu Beixi expressed his deep respect for Lu Yan as a true man, and his belief that Lu Yan was still alive, especially since his body and Little Tot were never found after the Black Saintess's defeat. He urged Dengdeng not to abandon her search, reminding her that Lu Yan had waited three thousand years for her.
He understood her fear of renewed hope and subsequent heartbreak, but warned that refusing to confront or seek him would lead to profound regret. After much contemplation, Dengdeng resolved to follow her heart and embark on a journey to find Lu Yan. As she and Dahai prepared to leave, the entire stronghold came to see them off. Just then, Lv Er returned, laden with Dengdeng's favorite Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar, which he had queued for before dawn.
He offered her four enigmatic words, "In the dim light," claiming his master had told him "that person is in the dim light," suggesting it held a clue to Lu Yan's whereabouts. Paralyzed Yu, ever the cynic, dismissed it as a charlatan's trick. Carrying a photograph of herself and Lu Yan, Dengdeng and Dahai traveled from town to town, city to city, including Nanyang City, searching every street and alley, yet found no news of him.
Passing a teahouse, they heard a storyteller recounting Lu Yan and Dengdeng's story. Finding his narrative inaccurate, Dahai pulled the storyteller from the stage and urged Dengdeng to share her own version. Dengdeng spoke from her heart, emphasizing their deep love and Lu Yan's unwavering support in times of danger. Dahai, in turn, passionately recounted his own unwavering faith in them, even when he suffered torment in prison. The audience was deeply moved by their heartfelt accounts.
Though Lu Yan's exact whereabouts remained unknown, Dengdeng continued her quest. She found solace in the stories and legends of him that circulated throughout Kyushu, and in fleeting glimpses of figures whose backs resembled his. She firmly believed that as long as she kept searching, and as long as Lu Yan remained beneath the vast sky of the Nine Continents, they were destined to reunite one day.
With this conviction, she whispered a silent prayer, "If we meet someday, I hope you'll be fine then." At that very moment, a familiar figure appeared in the bustling crowd. Dengdeng's eyes widened, and a smile bloomed on her face.
