When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 14 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
A widespread search for Sima Jiao began, with various cultivators following a significant blood trail that indicated his severe injuries. However, the trail abruptly vanished, suggesting Sima Jiao had used a powerful concealment spell to evade his pursuers. Worried about the potential for further massacres should he recover, the cultivators decided to regroup and discuss their next steps.
Meanwhile, Ye Ruling, driven by her secret ambition to break the Immortal-Demon Barrier, concluded that killing Sima Jiao was her only viable path, especially now that he was gravely wounded and isolated. She resolved to find allies to achieve this goal. Sima Jiao, having recently awakened, found himself in a shared bed with Liao Tingyan, who was visibly flustered by their proximity.
He playfully asked if she disliked their arrangement, to which she blushingly replied in the negative, noting that his severe injuries seemed to have affected his ability to use a Truth Spell. Sima Jiao, however, confidently stated that he no longer needed the spell to discern her true feelings. The intimate atmosphere left Liao Tingyan wondering if the little Spirit Fire's earlier revelation about Sima Jiao's affection for her might indeed be true.
To calm Liao Tingyan, Sima Jiao offered her a "Serene Vale specialty." He explained that they were currently in a temporary Mindscape, which accounted for the constant daylight and the absence of pursuers. Liao Tingyan then conveyed a message from the Immortal Messenger about another existing Spirit Fire, which Sima Jiao immediately identified as belonging to Shi Qianlv.
This prompted Liao Tingyan to question why Shi Qianlv would possess a Spirit Fire, given that only the Sima clan was known to cultivate them. Sima Jiao then unveiled a deeply guarded secret: the Sima clan's famed "ascension" was a tragic illusion. Instead of reaching a divine realm, their souls and bodies dissolved into pure spiritual energy, replenishing the world.
This truth, known only to their clan, was the reason other factions dared to scheme against them, seeking to merge Spirit Fire to break the curse and achieve true immortality. Shi Qianlv, having somehow learned this secret, created Baifeng Mountain to acquire Fengshan blood through rituals, hoping to achieve eternal life. Sima Jiao revealed that he had already destroyed Baifeng Mountain, but if Shi Qianlv's Spirit Fire still burned, it meant he had hidden other Fengshan bloodlines elsewhere.
When Liao Tingyan asked if he intended to kill Shi Qianlv, Sima Jiao declared that merely killing him would not suffice. He planned to plant "hidden fire" in the nine spiritual peaks that nourished the Shi family. Once he located Shi Qianlv's concealed Spirit Fire, he would ignite these fuses, utterly demolishing the Shi family's "century-old delusion."
Despite Liao Tingyan's concern for his injuries, Sima Jiao confidently asserted his resilience, stating that as long as he did not wish to die, no one could kill him. When she asked if he still harbored thoughts of death, he replied that because she had tried so hard to save him, he would choose to live. Their next destination, he informed her, was the Shi family.
Ye Ruling confronted Shi Qianlv, directly questioning his intentions regarding Sima Jiao and alluding to her knowledge of his involvement with Baifeng Mountain and the misappropriated Fengshan blood. She openly declared her primary goal was Sima Jiao's death, not out of personal vengeance, but to dismantle the Immortal-Demon Barrier. After a tense exchange where each tested the other's resolve, they agreed to an alliance.
Ye Ruling offered to keep the secrets of Baifeng Mountain confidential in exchange for his cooperation in eliminating Sima Jiao, acknowledging that their objectives aligned. Shi Qianlv, admiring her boldness, agreed to collaborate and requested timely updates. Ye Ruling reciprocated, urging him to uphold his end of the bargain. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv’s son, Shi Zhenxu, met with his aunt, Shi Qiandu.
She reassured him that the destruction of Baifeng Mountain was not his fault and mobilized the Shi clan to intensify their search for Sima Jiao, with Shi Zhenxu leading one of the search parties. Sima Jiao, still relying on an invisibility spell despite his injuries, guided Liao Tingyan to the Luo River Immortal District, a remote area of Gengchen Celestial Palace populated mostly by mortals and low-level cultivators.
Liao Tingyan, concerned by his weakened state, suggested they maintain a low profile. Sima Jiao, however, confidently declared that with him, any place was a sanctuary for her. To further elude their pursuers and infiltrate the Shi family's network, they disguised themselves as the arrogant Mu siblings, Yong Lingchun and Yong Shiqiu.
The Mu family, connected to the Shi clan through generations of marriage, provided a convenient cover, especially since their residence was in a secluded part of the district, making them less likely to be detected by Shi Qianlv. Disguised as the Mu siblings, Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan arrived at Chen Academy, where their "grandfather," Master Mu, urged them to study diligently and avoid shaming their families.
Liao Tingyan found the idea of attending school after transmigration absurd, but, determined not to be a burden to Sima Jiao, she began diligently learning basic spells. Sima Jiao, noticing her dedication, secretly shared advanced knowledge of elemental and derivative spells, and demonstrated how to access the private storage space within her Soul Manor.
While preparing for his mission to find Shi Qianlv's hidden Spirit Fire, Sima Jiao showed Liao Tingyan a list of clans allied with the Shi family, compiled from his observations during a previous combat tournament. He clarified that he would use these clans as a diversion rather than killing them, to buy time for his search.
As Sima Jiao departed on his mission, instructing Liao Tingyan to simply enjoy her time, she, now alone, began diligently stocking her Soul Manor space with food, daily supplies, and medicine, anticipating future challenges and reflecting on their unusual "long-distance romance." During her time at Chen Academy, Liao Tingyan, posing as Yong Lingchun, encountered Qi Letian, who attempted to befriend her, leading to him being disciplined by their young teacher.
Later, at a social gathering in Jinxiu Painting Hall, Liao Tingyan skillfully navigated confrontations with other students, including one who accused her of embarrassing Qi Letian. She used her "Liao Tingyan" personality to calmly deflect their aggressions with unexpected agreements, baffling them with the stark contrast to Yong Lingchun's notorious fiery temper.
Amidst the festivities, students gossiped about a recent major incident in the Inner Court, speculating that Sima Jiao had gone on a rampage due to a woman's influence, resulting in his current "seclusion" and a cover-up by the Sect Master. Opinions were divided, with some students fearing Sima Jiao's unpredictable nature, while others revered him as a pivotal figure in Gengchen Celestial Palace, wishing they could be his classmates.
Liao Tingyan, reflecting on these conversations, found herself missing Sima Jiao, lamenting that she could not see him whenever she wished. Sima Jiao traveled to the Shi clan's Spiritual Peaks' Spirit Pool, observing its continued abundance of spiritual energy even after 500 years. He declared that Shi Qianlv's comfortable life was due for a change, then planted "hidden fire" there, awaiting the opportune moment to ignite it.
He then instructed an informant to immediately report any detection of the Fengshan Spirit Fire. Meanwhile, in the Yin Palace, Hei Nianjiu, currently under Ye Ruling's protection, expressed concern for Liao Tingyan's safety, knowing Sima Jiao's perilous situation. Missing Ye Ruling, he ventured to her quarters, prompting her to explain her recent preoccupation with important matters and warn him of the dangers of being discovered by the searching Shi family and Eight Palaces.
Despite the risks, Hei Nianjiu expressed his reluctance to leave her, even offering to stay the night. Ye Ruling, though touched by his earnest affection and compliments about her eyes, gently but firmly redirected him to return to his room, skillfully maintaining their professional boundary while acknowledging his growing emotional attachment.
