When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 10 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Upon entering the Zuihua Pleasure House, Sima Jiao felt an unusual stirring within him, pondering what it might be trying to tell him. Liao Tingyan, in otter form, wondered if Sima Jiao had flown all this way just for such a place, teasing if it was some kind of late-life scandal. Sima Jiao sternly told her to pipe down, then denied being able to read minds when she asked.
Before entering, Sima Jiao instructed Nianjiu, who had just transformed into human form, to wait outside. Liao Tingyan wanted to tag along, remarking how Nianjiu was missing such "shocking scenes." Sima Jiao explained he didn't want Nianjiu, new to the human world, to witness such things, which Liao Tingyan understood as "not kid-friendly," playfully noting she never thought Sima Jiao was "this kind of man." Sima Jiao clarified his purpose: he was there to look for someone.
Inside, they overheard patrons discussing a "Mr. Yan" who had just taken his eleventh concubine but was already back seeking pleasure, which Liao Tingyan condemned as "scum through and through." Liao Tingyan spotted their target, Yan Huan, noticing a distinctive flame-shaped birthmark on his shoulder. She confirmed with Sima Jiao that this was the man he was looking for.
After capturing Yan Huan and storing him in his Qiankun Pouch, Sima Jiao used an illusion to disguise himself as Yan Huan to avoid suspicion. Liao Tingyan remarked that Sima Jiao had only changed his clothes, yet everyone thought he was the real Yan Huan. She was surprised by his "roundabout tactics," having expected a more direct approach, and teasingly warned him to be careful when a woman tried to touch him, reminding him not to "give himself away."
As Sima Jiao, still disguised as Yan Huan, was leaving, Yan Huan's concubine, Zhou Qing'er, confronted him. Sima Jiao, embodying Yan Huan's persona, coldly asked when she would stop pestering him and ordered the house staff to take her away. Liao Tingyan felt pity for Zhou Qing'er and suggested Sima Jiao say something harsh to make the heartbroken woman give up. Sima Jiao followed her instructions precisely, declaring, "I'm not worthy of such devotion from you. I'm a jerk.
A scum. Nothing but an animal. So, miss, forget me and go find a better man." Zhou Qing'er, heartbroken, begged for an explanation for his sudden coldness, saying she didn't understand. She then revealed that their daughter had been born last month and asked him to give the child a name. Sima Jiao, still in character, dismissively replied, "What's that to me?"
Back at the Yan Residence, Sima Jiao, still disguised as Yan Huan, was informed by a servant that Yan Huan's father wanted him to rest at the sixth concubine's quarters. Sima Jiao, maintaining the ruse, declared Yan Huan would not go anywhere and would stay home to produce heirs. Liao Tingyan commented that Yan Huan was a good-for-nothing, living off his family and frequenting brothels.
Sima Jiao retorted that she was simply jealous of his easy life, though Liao Tingyan predicted Yan Huan would eventually squander his family fortune. Sima Jiao then interrogated the real Yan Huan, who, when asked about the flame-shaped birthmark on his shoulder, reacted with extreme distress, crying that he didn't know and didn't want to go back to "that place." He became so agitated that even Sima Jiao's Truth Spell failed to extract information.
Liao Tingyan explained that Yan Huan seemed to be suffering from PTSD related to the birthmark. Frustrated, Sima Jiao called Yan Huan worthless, but Liao Tingyan advised patience, suggesting they look for clues elsewhere and emphasizing the need for caution while Sima Jiao was impersonating Yan Huan. Concerned about Zhou Qing'er, Liao Tingyan requested Sima Jiao to turn her back into human form so she could go out.
She explained her desire to inform Zhou Qing'er about Yan Huan's many concubines, hoping it would make her give up. Sima Jiao questioned her sudden industriousness, noting her usual tendency to slack off. Liao Tingyan clarified she was "relaxed," not lazy, and merely wished to help Sima Jiao avoid further harassment from Zhou Qing'er. Sima Jiao agreed, adding that she should report any clues about the flame-shaped birthmark. Liao Tingyan playfully called him a "workaholic."
She found Zhou Qing'er selling embroidery and tried to convince her to abandon Yan Huan, detailing his numerous concubines. However, Zhou Qing'er remained steadfast, believing Yan Huan to be a loyal man and recalling their initial sincere connection. Liao Tingyan offered Zhou Qing'er money, claiming it was from Yan Huan, urging her to leave and start a new life with her child, but Zhou Qing'er refused, insisting she would not leave without an explanation from Yan Huan.
She recited a romantic poem Yan Huan had once written for her, expressing her disbelief that their relationship could change without reason. Liao Tingyan again asked Zhou Qing'er about the flame-shaped birthmark, but Zhou Qing'er claimed to know nothing about it. Liao Tingyan sighed, noting it was a difficult secret to uncover. Liao Tingyan, back in otter form, returned to Sima Jiao, acknowledging her lack of progress.
She reiterated that Zhou Qing'er knew only about the birthmark's existence, not its meaning, and described Zhou Qing'er as a "hopeless romantic" who refused to believe Yan Huan had betrayed her. Sima Jiao asked for a definition of "hopeless romantic," which Liao Tingyan explained as an "illness" where one cares only for romance. When asked if she suffered from it, Liao Tingyan vehemently denied it, claiming she was too busy managing her own affairs.
Sima Jiao then declared love to be the "most useless thing in this world," a sentiment Liao Tingyan disagreed with, arguing that beautiful emotions could give great strength, though Sima Jiao dismissed this as a thought only those with "poor cultivation" would entertain. Liao Tingyan reflected silently that Sima Jiao's upbringing explained his views on love.
Later, Liao Tingyan, still in otter form, repeatedly tried to convince Sima Jiao to turn her back into human form for a shopping trip, complaining about frequently being an otter. Sima Jiao simply told her she chattered too much and interrupted his rest, even remarking he already had her as a "body pillow." Meanwhile, Ye Ruling, using a soul-tracking firefly, traced Nianjiu's last whereabouts to the Yan Residence, deducing that Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan must be there too.
She asked a servant about a beautiful young woman, but the servant only mentioned a new concubine. Liao Tingyan, still an otter, realized Ye Ruling was searching for her. When Ye Ruling mistook the otter for a "little spirit," Liao Tingyan transformed, revealing herself. Ye Ruling was stunned, confirming her identity by recalling a shared memory of enjoying fruits and scenery together.
Relieved, Ye Ruling embraced Liao Tingyan, understanding that Sima Jiao had disguised her to protect her from the Eight Palaces. She admitted her fear when Liao Tingyan's life lamp had gone out. Sima Jiao and Nianjiu then appeared. Nianjiu asked Sima Jiao and Ye Ruling why they hadn't told him Liao Tingyan was safe, to which Sima Jiao simply told him to reflect on himself. Nianjiu asked Ye Ruling to teach him human ways, calling her "Master."
He presented her with a tube whistle as a gift, explaining its ability to transmit sound over a hundred li, allowing him to come to her aid if needed. Ye Ruling began his lesson by teaching him how to politely refuse, starting with "This doesn't look right," then "It's not convenient for me," and finally "I'd rather not" for stronger refusal.
Nianjiu, delighted, linked these to Sima Jiao's blunt "Get lost," which Ye Ruling confirmed as the "ultimate form of rejection." Liao Tingyan, still investigating, overheard a woman call out the name "Yueqing." She instantly connected this to the poem Zhou Qing'er had recited, realizing "Yueqing" was the name Yan Huan had given their child, a name derived from his love poem.
Excited, Liao Tingyan, now in human form, rushed to Sima Jiao to share her discovery: Yan Huan truly loved Zhou Qing'er. Sima Jiao seemed indifferent to Yan Huan's "love story," but Liao Tingyan elaborated, questioning why Yan Huan, despite his affection, would go to such lengths to distance himself from Zhou Qing'er. She theorized that Yan Huan's secret struggle was connected to his flame-shaped birthmark.
Suddenly, a servant burst in, reporting that the eleventh concubine had attempted suicide by jumping into a well but was saved. She was desperately crying to see her child, Xian. Other concubines also demanded to see their children. Sima Jiao questioned the servant about the child's whereabouts, but the servant explained that he and the Master never allowed staff to inquire about the children. Liao Tingyan observed the suspicious absence of children in the large household, despite many concubines.
Sima Jiao noted that Zhou Qing'er was the only one with Yan Huan's child outside the household. Disguised as Yan Huan once more, Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan went to find Zhou Qing'er. She rushed to them, distraught, revealing their child had been stolen. Sima Jiao used his magic to follow a stream of light, which led them to the housekeeper from Yan Huan's residence.
Sima Jiao confronted the housekeeper, who confessed he was stealing the child to bring her back to the Yan household for Master Yan, who had instructed him to gather any children Yan Huan had fathered outside. The housekeeper claimed he didn't know Master Yan's current whereabouts. Sima Jiao examined the rescued baby, confirming she also had a flame-shaped birthmark on her back.
Liao Tingyan speculated that all of Yan Huan's children bore the mark, and the Yan family was systematically taking them. Sima Jiao affirmed her suspicion, explaining that the Yan family made Yan Huan marry many concubines and forced him to procreate because these children were of "great use." Liao Tingyan remarked that this sounded disturbingly similar to the methods of the Eight Palaces, who had previously forced Sima Jiao's parents together and sought his bloodline to feed the Spirit Fire.
Sima Jiao dismissed these schemes as "boring" and "nothing new." Zhou Qing'er was reunited with her baby and expressed deep gratitude to Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan. Liao Tingyan then asked why Zhou Qing'er had concealed her daughter's birthmark. Zhou Qing'er explained that Yan Huan had previously reacted with agitation when she asked about his birthmark, as if it were an "ill omen." Knowing he disliked it, she had pretended ignorance about her daughter's similar mark to avoid upsetting him.
Sima Jiao then informed Zhou Qing'er that he had named her daughter "Yueqing." Zhou Qing'er was moved, recognizing the name from Yan Huan's love poem, and felt he still cared for her. Sima Jiao, recalling a past memory where his own parents had named him "Jiao," mused internally that even with a name, a child's future could still "bring disaster."
Liao Tingyan, sensing his somber thought, urged him not to say such frightening things and reassured Zhou Qing'er that no matter what dangers lay ahead, Yueqing would have her loving mother and would never face the world alone. Zhou Qing'er thanked them again, revealing that she had realized Sima Jiao was not the real Yan Huan.
When Liao Tingyan asked how she had seen through Sima Jiao's illusion, Zhou Qing'er humbly stated she knew nothing of spells but, having spent so much time with Yan Huan, was intimately familiar with his every move. She explained that after Sima Jiao used magic to locate the baby, she was certain he was an imposter. Liao Tingyan mused that "true love can break spells."
Sima Jiao, overhearing this, declared that Zhou Qing'er could then "break the Yan family's fate with true love." Liao Tingyan promised Zhou Qing'er they would continue to investigate the Yan family's affairs. Later, Liao Tingyan asked Sima Jiao about his connection to the Yan family. Sima Jiao confirmed that he had indeed suspected a relation between the flame-shaped birthmark and The Fengshan Clan.
He revealed that upon entering the town, he had located Yan Huan using blood resonance, a power he had not realized he possessed, being the sole survivor of the Sima Clan for over five hundred years. He had used the same blood resonance to find the stolen child.
Sima Jiao explained that while The Fengshan Clan typically upheld bloodline purity, it was possible some members had defied their elders over the years, fled, and had children with outsiders, leading to the presence of Fengshan bloodline here. He concluded that Shi Qianlv's extensive efforts to gather people of the Fengshan bloodline indicated he was "playing a long game."
