When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 16 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Sima Jiao caught an Ice Blue Fish and, finding the act uninteresting himself, handed it to Liao Tingyan. She playfully took it, attempting to explain the pun "摸鱼" (slacking off) to him. Sima Jiao informed her they were in Cloudsky Realm and that the fish was a rare Ice Blue Fish, sustained by pure spiritual energy and taking millennia to grow. Initially concerned by its preciousness, Liao Tingyan's interest piqued upon learning the fish also offered benefits for beauty.
Sima Jiao then caught more fish, leading Liao Tingyan to praise his remarkable skills, calling him "the best man ever" and "utterly handsome," though he dismissed her compliments. She affectionately wiped his brow as he requested some of the fish be made into soup. Surprised by his uncharacteristic desire to eat, Liao Tingyan prepared a large bowl of fish soup, which Sima Jiao found to be an exquisite "celestial delicacy."
Sima Jiao announced his intention to depart the next day to find spirit veins, a journey he referred to as "pursuing his career," which would take several days. He offered to bring back anything Liao Tingyan desired. She reassured him, stating she had the Qiankun Pouch her master had given her, as well as the Flowing Light Mirror he had provided, and encouraged him to focus on his mission without worry.
Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv received a report that the Ice Blue Fish in Cloudsky Realm had been extensively stolen. Seeing the remaining fish bones, he was deeply distressed. Ye Ruling, examining the scene, identified traces of Liao Tingyan's extreme-cold nature, noting her recent advancement in cultivation. While other sect officials questioned if Sima Jiao, who was still injured, would risk such an act, Shi Qianlv speculated that Sima Jiao might have done it for Liao Tingyan's sake.
Elsewhere, Yue Chuhui, the Young Mistress of the Night Palace, faced her mother's wrath. Yue Chuhui had been cultivating demonic arts that required absorbing female disciples' spiritual energy, and news of this was starting to spread. Her mother, the Palace Mistress, worried about the scandal and the other palaces' reactions. Yue Chuhui, however, defended her actions, claiming it was the only way to quickly advance her cultivation and that the "nobodies" she consumed wouldn't be missed.
To contain the potential scandal, the Palace Mistress, against Yue Chuhui's wishes, decided to send her to the remote Luo River Immortal District, where her activities would attract less attention. Feeling restless after Sima Jiao's departure, Liao Tingyan decided to go shopping for a gift for him in the Luo River Immortal District.
At the Cloud Robe Embroidery House, she customized an artifact and was then shown a silk brocade patterned with "Moonshade Bloom," a flower associated with the Sima Clan. As she admired the fabric, Yue Chuhui, who had just arrived, imperiously declared she would take all the brocade. The shopkeeper apologized, explaining that it was already reserved by Liao Tingyan. Yue Chuhui's maid then boasted about their prestigious family.
Liao Tingyan, trying to avoid conflict due to their numerical disadvantage, conceded the fabric and turned to leave. However, Yue Chuhui stopped her, claiming to loathe a familiar aura about Liao Tingyan and accusing her of feigning meekness while looking down on everyone. Despite Liao Tingyan's denial, Yue Chuhui, provoked by a perceived defiance, ordered her subordinates, Lord Han and Lord of Wind, to brutally assault Liao Tingyan.
Liao Tingyan, outmatched by Yue Chuhui's enhanced cultivation, was taken to Mount Ziliu Manor and severely beaten. Yue Chuhui cut her face with a dagger, causing blood to splash, and then Liao Tingyan was further brutally beaten. Yue Chuhui, expressing her intense dislike for Liao Tingyan's face, attempted to absorb her cultivation. In self-defense, Liao Tingyan used her extreme-cold nature, injuring Yue Chuhui and causing an unusual frostbite that resisted common remedies.
Enraged, Yue Chuhui ordered her subordinates to smash Liao Tingyan's bones but keep her alive for further torment, then left. Ye Ruling, learning of Yue Chuhui's strange frostbite, became suspicious and went to Mount Ziliu Manor. There, she discovered Liao Tingyan, severely injured and unconscious, confirming the presence of the extreme-cold energy. Recognizing Liao Tingyan's critical condition, Ye Ruling saw an opportunity to use her as bait to lure Sima Jiao.
She promptly informed all the palaces, leading to a large gathering of sect leaders. Madam Yue, distraught by her daughter Yue Chuhui being used as bait, reluctantly agreed to the plan after Shi Qianlv reassured her that Sima Jiao's weakened state would allow them to seal him and save Yue Chuhui, thereby elevating Madam Yue's status among the palaces.
Sima Jiao, having received an urgent message about Liao Tingyan's distress, swiftly traveled to Mount Ziliu Manor, accompanied by his loyal subordinate, Hei Nianjiu, who insisted on aiding his friend Liao Tingyan. At the manor, Sima Jiao found Liao Tingyan badly wounded, with injuries on her face and blood all over her body. He embraced her, transferring his internal energy to soothe her pain and heal her injuries.
Liao Tingyan, crying with tears of grievance and relief, confessed her helplessness against so many powerful cultivators. As Sima Jiao carried her, the Eight Palaces arrived, having formed a sealing array around the manor. Yue Chuhui, now facing Sima Jiao, pleaded with her mother for help. Sima Jiao then instructed Liao Tingyan to take her revenge by "stripping her face" and killing Yue Chuhui. Liao Tingyan, however, hesitated, having never taken a life.
She feigned worsening internal injuries, begging Sima Jiao to retreat with her, citing his unhealed wounds and their encirclement. Sima Jiao, seeing her reluctance, agreed not to force her but declared that Yue Chuhui "must pay the price." Ignoring Madam Yue's desperate pleas, Sima Jiao then directly killed Yue Chuhui. Enraged by her daughter's death, Madam Yue vowed revenge. Shi Qianlv taunted Sima Jiao, believing his injuries would prevent him from breaking their sealing array.
However, Sima Jiao dramatically declared that this was the moment he had been waiting for and shattered the array, escaping with Liao Tingyan. Afterward, Liao Tingyan asked how he managed to break the seal, recalling his previous words that he would need help from one of the Eight Palaces, which had led her to try to persuade Ye Ruling. Sima Jiao revealed that Ye Ruling was merely a "pretense" to mislead Shi Qianlv; his true accomplice was Yuan Che.
Liao Tingyan expressed concern about the risk he took and her surprise that he had learned to "work with others." Sima Jiao, however, dismissed it as Yuan Che's honor to aid him. Liao Tingyan then reflected on her lost friendship with Ye Ruling, feeling a persistent sense of irritability and tightness in her chest. Sima Jiao promised to heal both her physical wounds and her emotional distress.
Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, in a revealing flashback, Ye Ruling was seen speaking to Hei Nianjiu, apologizing to both him and Liao Tingyan. She confessed that her actions were not solely for herself but for her clan's return to their homeland, hinting at a complex web of loyalty and a betrayal of her friendships for a greater, hidden purpose.
