When Destiny Brings The Demon Episode 4 Recap
> When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Sima Jiao attempted to break free from the powerful seal that confined him. He had tried numerous times, once nearly succumbing to qi deviation. The closest he came was when the divine temple's dome began to loosen, emitting countless specks of light. Liao Tingyan, witnessing this spectacle for the first time, did not understand the gravity of the situation, instead finding the colorful glow beautiful and even invited Black Serpent to enjoy the view with her.
Suddenly, the earth trembled violently. A sense of unease filled Liao Tingyan. She intuitively felt that Sima Jiao was in trouble. As the tremors intensified, the Black Serpent vehemently warned Sima Jiao that forcing the seal open was impossible.
He reminded Sima Jiao that despite Liao Tingyan alleviating his Spirit Fire pain, the seal was formed by the bloodlines of all Eight Palaces, and any reckless attempts to break it would only drive the sealing nails deeper into his body, potentially killing him. Sima Jiao, annoyed, simply told him to be silent. Observing the strange phenomenon, Liao Tingyan realized that what outsiders perceived as Sima Jiao's seclusion was, in fact, five hundred years of imprisonment by the major sects.
She understood his frustration, remarking that anyone confined like that for centuries would surely go mad. Feeling a surge of pity for her “boss,” she resolved to find a way to cheer him up. As the temple quieted and night fell, Liao Tingyan quietly went to check on Sima Jiao's condition. She inadvertently stumbled and fell into his bath. Although extremely embarrassed, Sima Jiao did not rebuke her.
As she discreetly observed him, she noticed scars on his body, leading her to believe they were remnants from when he was sealed. Liao Tingyan then offered to help him alleviate his worries. She used the cultivation Sima Jiao had recently boosted for her to conjure numerous beautiful, pure white snowflakes, asking him how he liked it and if it made him feel cooler.
Sima Jiao, however, found her efforts ridiculous, questioning why she used her enhanced cultivation for such trivial tricks. He asserted that her cultivation could be used for far more significant purposes. Liao Tingyan persisted, trying to charm him by saying he shouldn't frown with such a handsome face. Unbeknownst to them, spies planted by the major sects had infiltrated the inner hall and were eavesdropping on Sima Jiao's conversations.
Sima Jiao was heard discussing the impending new moon, revealing that it would be his weakest period after five centuries of imprisonment and daily torment. He told the Black Serpent that during this time, he would be vulnerable and in danger of losing his life if not properly guarded. The spies immediately reported this crucial information to their respective palace masters.
They convened to devise a plan, recognizing the new moon as a rare opportunity to deal with Sima Jiao, especially as he was the sole sustenance for the Fengshan Spirit Fire. Some masters expressed concern that the Grandmaster, even weakened, might still be dangerous, while others speculated their true motives were to seize the Bloodseal Bloom or eliminate him to prevent him from settling old scores.
Master Yin, whose spy, Anxue, delivered the news, proposed his palace handle the matter by sending elders to protect Sima Jiao, a thinly veiled attempt to gain an advantage. Meanwhile, two female disciples from the Star Palace of Gengchen Celestial Palace, Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing, were consumed by jealousy.
They learned that Liao Tingyan was moving into the inner hall and expressed resentment that she, a disciple from the Four Seasons Palace, had so quickly gained Sima Jiao’s favor and would be living with him. Believing Liao Tingyan had used tricks to win him over, they decided to eliminate her. They found Liao Tingyan sketching Black Serpent, who she affectionately called "Brother Snake," reassuring him that Ye Ruling would eventually return his inner core because of her kind nature.
The two disciples accosted Liao Tingyan, accusing her of disrespecting Sima Jiao by lounging and painting instead of serving him. They quickly resorted to violence, intending to "teach her a lesson" on Sima Jiao's behalf. Liao Tingyan, simply wanting to be a "slacker," defended herself using the snow-conjuring spell Sima Jiao had improved for her, expressing her exasperation at the constant trouble. Despite being a three-spiritual-root cultivator, she proved surprisingly resilient.
Yun Xiyue then urged Hua Wanqing to kill Liao Tingyan to eliminate the threat for good. Sima Jiao, who had been observing the events, intervened just in time. He easily defeated Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing, declaring that Three Saints Mountain was not a place for their reckless behavior. As they pleaded for their lives, Sima Jiao coldly remarked that they had ruined his rare moment of amusement.
He questioned Yun Xiyue about her motives, and she brazenly confessed her plan: to become his concubine and bear a child with the Sima clan's atavistic bloodline. Her ultimate goal was for the Fengshan Clan to have an heir, after which they would trap and kill Sima Jiao, seize the Spirit Fire, and allow the Star Palace to rule Gengchen Celestial Palace, with her as the next Palace Mistress.
When he questioned Hua Wanqing, she admitted she was simply there to sabotage Yun Xiyue's plans out of hatred. Sima Jiao, unimpressed, dismissed their "tired tricks" and warned them that if he died, the entire Gengchen Celestial Palace, including all palace and lineage masters, would perish with him, making it clear that an atavistic bloodline was exceedingly rare. He then mercilessly executed Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing and resolved that he would have to teach Liao Tingyan how to kill.
Liao Tingyan had survived the ordeal and was now recovering. Ye Ruling, who had been alerted by Black Serpent, found Liao Tingyan unconscious and cared for her. Upon awakening, Liao Tingyan asked what happened, and Ye Ruling told her she found her unconscious amidst the smell of blood, speculating that Sima Jiao might have killed someone. Liao Tingyan, however, maintained that Sima Jiao, despite his eccentricities, was not bloodthirsty.
She then recalled the attack by Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing but noted she had no injuries. Ye Ruling was surprised, wondering if Sima Jiao had saved her and developed feelings. Liao Tingyan quickly dismissed the idea, attributing Sima Jiao's actions to her unique ability to alleviate his Spirit Fire burns, calling herself his "walking air conditioner." Ye Ruling, in turn, pondered if Liao Tingyan possessed an "extreme-cold nature from the Demon Realm," which would explain her unusual constitution.
Liao Tingyan, grateful for Black Serpent's help, urged Ye Ruling to return the inner core, vouching for Black Serpent’s good nature. Ye Ruling, after some hesitation and acknowledging Black Serpent’s role in saving Liao Tingyan, decided to return the inner core. She approached Black Serpent with an apology for her previous misunderstanding, offering him a drink he supposedly enjoyed. As Black Serpent swallowed his inner core, he immediately transformed into a handsome human form.
Overjoyed, Black Serpent thanked Ye Ruling profusely for enabling his transformation, even though she claimed to have done nothing to the core. Black Serpent then sought out Sima Jiao to announce his transformation. Sima Jiao coldly reminded him that he had consumed enough of his blood to transform long ago. Black Serpent then swore eternal loyalty to Sima Jiao, acknowledging his life was a gift from him.
Sima Jiao advised him to learn to "be human" now that he had taken human form, to which Black Serpent replied that Liao Tingyan had also told him to practice self-respect and self-love. Black Serpent also expressed his gratitude to Liao Tingyan, calling her a true friend. Sima Jiao, observing this, commented that Liao Tingyan was skilled at winning people over. Sima Jiao then instructed Black Serpent to guard the mountain gate on the upcoming new moon night.
Liao Tingyan later conversed with a female disciple from the Heaven Palace, who perpetually waited outside Sima Jiao's residence. The disciple explained her devotion stemmed from Sima Jiao's role in sustaining the Spirit Fire, which provided endless spiritual power to Gengchen Celestial Palace, and gaining his favor was her lifelong ambition and her palace's pride.
When Liao Tingyan asked if she feared Sima Jiao might kill her due to his unpredictability, the disciple declared she would have no regrets, even in death. Liao Tingyan, in an internal monologue, pondered the cultivators' readiness to die, contrasting it with her own desire to simply live and fight for survival.
During another encounter, Liao Tingyan joked with Sima Jiao about him scaring her early in the morning, warning him not to overwork her to avoid "work-related injuries" for which he'd be responsible. Sima Jiao found her ambition amusing. Liao Tingyan then gave him a "thumbs-up" gesture, explaining it was a form of flattery. Sima Jiao dismissed it as a "petty trick." Sima Jiao then questioned Liao Tingyan about her progress with the killing spell he had taught her.
Dissatisfied with her "so-so" answer, he demonstrated by holding a sword to her, instructing her on the precise vital points to strike for a fatal blow, emphasizing the heart and throat. After the impromptu lesson, she acknowledged his teachings, then quickly excused herself to water the "little flame." Finally, on the night of the new moon, various palace masters, including Master Tian, Madam Yue, and Master Yin, gathered near Sima Jiao’s residence.
They engaged in thinly veiled accusations about each other’s true intentions—whether to protect Sima Jiao, seize the Bloodseal Bloom, gain favor, or eliminate him entirely. Master Yin proposed sending his elders in first to "guard" Sima Jiao. Inside the inner hall, Sima Jiao asked Liao Tingyan if she had consumed the precious Bloodseal Bloom petals he had given her. She admitted she hadn't, considering them too valuable.
Sima Jiao explained that the petals required his blood to be effective, otherwise they would cause an explosion, but assured her she was safe since she had consumed his blood before. Liao Tingyan, ever practical, reasoned that a single petal could boost her cultivation by a thousand years, which she feared might "kill her" from overdose. When Sima Jiao insisted, she gambled that he wouldn't kill her for refusing. Sima Jiao agreed to her terms.
He then ominously asked if she thought he was easy to deal with today, before declaring that he was indeed at his weakest, making it a "golden chance" for anyone to kill him. Yet, he asserted that even in his weakened state, his attackers were still "too weak" to challenge him, even as blood trickled from his lips, which Liao Tingyan promptly pointed out.
Sima Jiao then directly challenged Liao Tingyan, telling her that with him gravely injured, it was a good opportunity for her. When one of the invading elders urged Liao Tingyan to seize the sword and kill Sima Jiao, arguing that if he lived, more would die, Liao Tingyan hesitated, stating she didn't kill. Sima Jiao then agreed with the elder, instructed Liao Tingyan to pull out the sword, and asked her if she remembered his previous lesson on how to kill.
