When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 25 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Liao Tingyan tested the water in the cold pond, surprised to find its temperature perfectly warm, akin to a hot spring. A sense of profound relaxation washed over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, especially after eighteen years of living under Shi Qianlu's oppression and being constantly incited to seek revenge. With Sima Jiao, she could finally cast aside hatred and embrace a carefree existence. Sima Jiao watched over her silently.
Thanks to the pill she had taken, refined with Sima Jiao's blood, her cultivation had advanced significantly. As she drifted into sleep in the pond, her spirit sense left her body, soaring freely. She playfully observed Hongluo meticulously grooming herself in her courtyard, remarking on her vanity. However, when Liao Tingyan tried to venture into the Demon Realm, an invisible barrier blocked her path.
Sima Jiao's voice then echoed, warning her that the Demon Realm was far more perilous than the Celestial Palace, and he had erected the protective barrier around her spirit sense for her safety. He explained that this sensation was familiar; she had experienced her spirit sense wandering in a similar way before when she drank his blood and took a Bloodseal Bloom to purge demonic poison, which had propelled her into Soulshift.
Liao Tingyan recalled finding a Bloodseal Bloom in her Soul Manor and questioned Sima Jiao about it, which seemed to unnerve him. He told her he could sometimes hear her thoughts when she was agitated, noting that even if she tried to distance herself, she instinctively drew close to and relied on him because a flower of his was still blooming in her Soul Manor.
Liao Tingyan, now curious about their past, asked Sima Jiao about the nature of their relationship before her memory loss, which he implied was intimate. She then explicitly asked if he had frequently entered her Soul Manor, to which he replied, "Very often." This admission triggered vivid images in her mind, and she quickly realized he could likely hear her thoughts.
She pressed him, asking why he hadn't used his powers to quickly restore her memories, which would achieve his desired outcome faster. Sima Jiao responded that he respected her pace, even if it meant waiting patiently for her memories to return naturally, stating they had plenty of time to "start anew." As Sima Jiao moved closer to her in the water, Liao Tingyan's heart pounded, and she tried to calm herself. He then gently kissed her, overwhelming her senses.
Unbeknownst to them, Feng Qi witnessed the kiss, his eyes wide with disbelief and pain. He had been told that Liao Tingyan, having lost her memories as the Frost Fish, couldn't recognize him, and Sima Jiao had brazenly declared her his cultivation partner, dismissing Feng Qi as a "clown." Feng Qi painfully recalled that it was Liao Tingyan who had saved his life, and now she had forgotten him.
Fueled by a desperate desire for her to remember him and believing he was the one she should recall, he sought out the Demon Realm Preceptor. The Preceptor, who had previously offered to help restore Liao Tingyan's memories, confirmed Feng Qi's willingness to cooperate. Feng Qi inquired about the Preceptor's true motivations. The Preceptor revealed a sinister plan: they intended to use Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao and extract his pure Fengshan bloodline for a "blood sacrifice."
This ritual, to be performed in the blood pool at White Bone Abyss, was essential to unseal and revive the former Demon Lord You Yan, who had been destroyed by Spirit Fire. The ritual also required a body of You family descent as a vessel and a member of the Chang family to initiate it.
Feng Qi, a descendant of the Chang family, readily agreed, affirming his unwavering loyalty to the Demon Race, despite his clan being wiped out by You Chi. He believed his reunion with Liao Tingyan was a matter of fate and eagerly awaited the Preceptor's instructions. Meanwhile, Sima Jiao, resting in the cold pond, engaged in a silent internal struggle with a mysterious voice, likely one of his two Spirit Fires.
The voice warned him about the immense strain his combined Spirit Fires placed on his body and the severe weakening caused by constantly refining pills for Liao Tingyan, cautioning that a grave injury could be fatal. Sima Jiao silenced the voice, forbidding it from revealing the presence of the two Spirit Fires to Liao Tingyan. Shortly after, Heng Lin, whom Liao Tingyan had encountered at the black market, arrived at her residence.
Hongluo informed Liao Tingyan, who recognized Heng Lin as the one who knew the way to Grain Rain Vale, the secluded place she longed for. Heng Lin explained that he had found her in Dongcheng and extended an invitation from Dongyang Zhenren, revealing that Liao Tingyan's master had settled there. Sima Jiao confirmed that Dongyang Zhenren had always been benevolent towards Liao Tingyan.
Delighted by the prospect of a "vacation," Liao Tingyan agreed to go, with Sima Jiao accompanying her for her safety. Upon their arrival at Grain Rain Vale, Sima Jiao used a truth-telling technique on Dongyang Zhenren and the other main figures, confirming that their invitation for Liao Tingyan to reunite with her master and fellow disciple Changqing was genuine and they harbored no ill intentions, putting Sima Jiao at ease about her staying there.
Liao Tingyan was overjoyed, finding Grain Rain Vale to be a peaceful "paradise in the Demon Realm," a stark contrast to the usual chaos. Sima Jiao told her he could transform both the Immortal and Demon Realms into her desired paradise, but she was content with her current tranquil "vacation," embracing her carefree life. He observed that she was increasingly resembling her old self, enjoying food and sleep, which he attributed to her newfound contentment.
That evening, everyone gathered for a lively barbecue. Liao Tingyan reveled in the festive atmosphere. Sima Jiao, watching her, eventually broke his usual habit of abstaining from human food and tried a lamb skewer, remarking on its delicious taste. He noted how much she had reverted to her old self.
During the feast, Liao Tingyan tasted various local delights, from "Sweet Qingling Melon" and "Crisp Qingling Melon" to "beef of the celestial ox" and "braised duck," all paired with the local wine. The constant drain on Sima Jiao's energy from making pills for Liao Tingyan caused him a moment of weakness, which his attendant noticed, worried Liao Tingyan might discover his fragile condition. The mysterious voice within Sima Jiao reiterated the dangers of his Spirit Fires.
Meanwhile, Feng Qi continued his attempts to gain Liao Tingyan's favor, much to the annoyance of Sima Jiao's attendant, who advised Feng Qi to remain just friends, noting Liao Tingyan's growing affection for Sima Jiao. Feng Qi, however, maintained that the outcome of their rivalry was yet to be decided. As the celebration wound down, a slightly tipsy Liao Tingyan confided in Dongyang Zhenren that she hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time.
Later, she encountered Feng Qi again, who tried to prompt her memories and offer assistance. Liao Tingyan politely, but firmly, declined, stating she was too intoxicated to converse and needed to clear her head. She wandered off to the cold pond, where she found Sima Jiao.
Playfully, she put a flower in his hair and plucked a petal with her lips as she asked why he always smiled when he looked at her, wondering if he had done so in the past. Sima Jiao reassured her that even if her soul were reborn, he would recognize her. Liao Tingyan reciprocated, confident that she, too, would recognize him if he maintained his confident demeanor. She had believed that eighteen years in the Demon Realm had fundamentally changed her, but Sima Jiao assured her that she remained the same person at heart.
