When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 13 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Shi Qianlv, while the other sect leaders remained unaware of Baifeng Mountain’s true secrets, instructed his followers to capture Sima Jiao while he was wounded, emphasizing that he must be kept alive. Sima Jiao then directly confronted Shi Qianlv, accusing him of spending centuries scheming and going to great lengths to build Baifeng Mountain just to seize control of Gengchen Celestial Palace and free himself from the Sima clan's influence.
He sarcastically asked if Shi Qianlv was pleased to see his plans unraveling so close to success. Shi Qianlv, fearing the other sect leaders would discover the truth, immediately lied, calling Sima Jiao a slanderer. He feigned compassion, claiming he had always defended Sima Jiao but was shocked by his disregard for human lives.
Shi Qianlv warned the other sect masters not to be swayed by Sima Jiao’s words, stating Sima Jiao merely wanted to drag the entire Gengchen Celestial Palace down with him, emphasizing that if Sima Jiao fully extinguished the Spirit Fire, that would be the true disaster. Sima Jiao countered that they were too weak to bring him down.
As the confrontation escalated, Sima Jiao further taunted Shi Qianlv, revealing his knowledge that Shi Qianlv had reached the Grand Ascend realm and had secretly cultivated another Spirit Fire elsewhere, aiming to use the Sima clan's secrets for his own ends. Shi Qianlv, enraged, threatened to destroy everything and leave no trace of the Fengshan bloodline if Sima Jiao continued to spout lies, thereby ruining Sima Jiao’s own grand ambitions.
Sima Jiao, initially intent on sacrificing his cultivation and perishing with the sect leaders, hesitated when Liao Tingyan, who was with him in her otter form, stirred. She anxiously questioned his intentions, and Sima Jiao, though having no hope for his own life, realized Liao Tingyan was innocent and should not be dragged into his destructive plan. He decided to abandon his self-sacrificial attempt and escape with her.
Liao Tingyan, witnessing Sima Jiao weakening and his body on the verge of collapse, urged him to stop fighting if the pain was too great, arguing there was no need to prolong his suffering for their enemies. Sima Jiao mused that he might die there, but expressed contentment with the long holiday he had enjoyed, asserting that his destiny was to live a carefree life.
Liao Tingyan asked if that meant she wouldn't have to die with him, and Sima Jiao confirmed her desire to live. Though he had nothing left to cling to, Liao Tingyan's will to live made him reconsider. As he faltered, Liao Tingyan encouraged him to stand up and run, insisting that she would not leave him behind, even if it meant certain death for them both.
As Sima Jiao lost consciousness, Liao Tingyan desperately called his name, noticing a red bead glowing on his ankle. After Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan vanished, Shi Qianlv, frustrated and despairing over the destruction of centuries of his clan's work at Baifeng Mountain, vowed to flay Sima Jiao alive and tear out his tendons. His subordinate reported that Sima Jiao had disappeared despite his injuries, prompting Shi Qianlv to order an exhaustive search.
Shi Qianlv discussed his next steps with his son, Zhenxu, emphasizing that their priority was to capitalize on Sima Jiao’s injuries to re-seal him, and that the Eight Palaces were too preoccupied with hunting Sima Jiao to investigate the Baifeng Mountain incident. He instructed Zhenxu to eliminate all witnesses. Shi Qianlv then revealed to Zhenxu that the new Spirit Fire had taken shape, and he would seek Sima Jiao’s blood to repay for the destruction of his plans.
Zhenxu assured his father that Sima Jiao could not hide forever, as the Eight Palaces had spies everywhere. Zhenxu, still consumed by love for Anxue, proposed returning to the palace to gather information on the Eight Palaces’ movements. Shi Qianlv rebuked him for being distracted by romance at such a critical time. Zhenxu pleaded, reminding his father that he had never asked for anything but Anxue.
Shi Qianlv then cruelly lied, claiming Sima Jiao had found Anxue while Zhenxu was away and brutally killed her, lamenting that he couldn't even retrieve her body for fear of exposure. Devastated, Zhenxu vehemently denied the possibility, unable to believe Anxue, usually so cautious, could have died. Fueled by grief and rage, Zhenxu swore to kill Sima Jiao to avenge Anxue.
Shi Qianlv, manipulating his son, asked Zhenxu when he planned to perform a Soul Cleanse on Anxue, reaffirming that Zhenxu must trust only him and ensure their grand plan remained flawless. Zhenxu reaffirmed his loyalty to his father and his commitment to their great undertaking, promising to avenge Anxue by killing Sima Jiao once their goal was achieved. Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan landed in Mindscape Lake. Liao Tingyan, feeling disoriented, wondered if she had entered someone else's domain.
A white-robed immortal, fishing on the lake, greeted them, stating that fate had brought them there and they should not rush to leave. The immortal then asked Liao Tingyan if she was a demon cultivator, and after she confirmed, he reassured her that his eyes could discern good from evil and knew she was not malevolent. The immortal recognized Sima Jiao from a past encounter at Three Saints Mountain, recalling Sima Jiao’s extraordinary intelligence even as a child.
He revealed that he had given Sima Jiao the Taoist name “Cizang” (Mercy) in hopes of guiding him towards compassion and away from his destructive impulses. The immortal had foreseen Sima Jiao single-handedly destroying Gengchen Celestial Palace, overturning the cultivation world, and slaughtering countless innocents, turning fertile lands into scorched earth and the immortal realm into hell. Liao Tingyan argued that Sima Jiao, though appearing ruthless, did not kill indiscriminately.
The immortal affirmed that nothing was absolute, and even in a dead end, hope could exist. He foresaw a glimmer of life in Sima Jiao's bloody future—a turning point, a person who would change him. Liao Tingyan asked who that person was.
The immortal then explained to Liao Tingyan that the red prayer bead (also known as a "Jingxinwan" or "Calming Mind Pill") on Sima Jiao’s ankle, which others viewed as a binding seal, was placed there by him to suppress Sima Jiao’s malevolence and keep his mind clear, though it caused him unbearable pain when he harbored killing intent. He revealed it was also a divine medicine: if Liao Tingyan could remove the bead, it could save Sima Jiao's life once.
If not, it meant Sima Jiao's fate was sealed. When Liao Tingyan asked why the immortal couldn't just save Sima Jiao himself, the immortal simply urged her to try. Liao Tingyan discovered she could easily remove the bead, confirming her role as Sima Jiao’s fated turning point and a hope for all living beings. The immortal instructed her to guide Sima Jiao towards good and to handle other Spirit Fires with care, as Sima Jiao would understand his meaning.
The immortal then declared his connection with the Fengshan Clan was complete and departed, leaving Liao Tingyan to wonder about his sudden departure. Liao Tingyan gave the bead to Sima Jiao, noting his improved complexion, realizing she had finally saved him for once. The Spirit Pearl, still agitated, warned Liao Tingyan that while the bead had stabilized Sima Jiao’s body, his consciousness was still fading, and he would die if nothing more was done.
It urged Liao Tingyan to enter Sima Jiao’s Soul Manor and piece his soul back together, admitting that it needed Sima Jiao alive to survive, as it was still bound to him. Liao Tingyan expressed doubt about entering such a powerful cultivator’s Soul Manor without his cooperation, but the Spirit Pearl insisted that Sima Jiao was fond of her and she might succeed.
Liao Tingyan, though initially skeptical of Sima Jiao's feelings for her, resolved to help him, realizing it would be a waste to give up halfway. Liao Tingyan pressed her forehead against Sima Jiao's, entering his Soul Manor. She was surprised to find it ravaged and scarred, like a Mountain of Flames, realizing the immense constant suffering Sima Jiao endured.
She stumbled through his fragmented memories, feeling the overwhelming pain and despair from his past, including a memory of his birth and an old voice lamenting that Sima Jiao was destined to live in agony from the Spirit Fire. She wondered if she would die there, feeling her own identity blur as she experienced all of Sima Jiao's emotions. As his soul core began to shatter, she panicked, desperately trying to hold it together.
She embraced the crumbling core, her tears flowing onto it, and miraculously, the core stopped shattering. She then heard Sima Jiao's voice from a memory, echoing his past promise: "If I don't want you to die, you won't die." When Liao Tingyan awoke, she found herself lying next to Sima Jiao, tear marks still on her face.
The Spirit Pearl excitedly informed her that she had pulled Sima Jiao back from the brink of death and that only two more entries into his Soul Manor might be needed for a full recovery. Liao Tingyan, remembering Sima Jiao's past kindness, committed herself to the task, even though the first entry had been emotionally draining.
She internally mused about Sima Jiao's potential affection for her, quickly dismissing it as wishful thinking, given his ancient age and her lower cultivation level. Nevertheless, she determined to see her efforts through to the end. During her second entry, Sima Jiao's Soul Manor was no longer scorching, and Liao Tingyan felt a peaceful connection, indicating their spiritual energies were intertwining.
Sima Jiao, in his slumber, experienced a pleasant dream of blooming flowers, gentle breezes, and vibrant plants, finding peace resting in a tree. He even briefly sensed the serene and pleasant nature of Liao Tingyan's Soul Manor. Liao Tingyan awoke again, observing the serene and handsome sleeping Sima Jiao, a rare moment for her to truly take in his features.
She prayed for his fortune to change, reflecting on her journey with him, from their first terrifying encounter to understanding his painful past. Suddenly, Sima Jiao opened his eyes, no longer cold or violent. He then leaned in and tenderly kissed Liao Tingyan, leaving her astonished and pondering the true nature of their connection.
