Episode Summary
Chu Youhuang's team investigates Gao Sheng's murder. Jiu Xuanye seeks the cat demon after it returns stolen money, joined by Duan Banxia. They stay at Feng Wuniang's inn, where suspicious events unfold, including strange incense, a hidden storage room, and a creepy "eyeball" incident in the hot spring.
Spoiler Alert
"The Demon Hunter's Romance" Episode 11: Recap & Spoilers
Our main man, Chu Youhuang, is leading some officers to track down Gao Sheng. During a pit stop, Old Li gets the heebie-jeebies, thinking there are bugs on him, but finds nothing. It turns out it's Old Li's son's one-month birthday, and Chu Youhuang has a gift. He feels guilty for dragging Li away from the celebrations, but Li's tracking skills are too valuable. Li, ever the loyal one, doesn't mind. He sees it as an honor and a sign of Chu Youhuang's appreciation. Aww!
Meanwhile, the cat demon is playing Robin Hood, returning all the stolen money to Jiu Xuanye. This includes Wen Jian's cash and even Duan Banxia's father's money! This confirms that her dad did trade with the cat demon for extra life, but Jiu Xuanye finds it odd. Why so cheap? Each life was only worth 200 taels of silver. Jiu Xuanye suspects the cat demon needs something from him, hence the refunds, and decides to go find it.
Duan Banxia, not one to be left behind, insists on joining Jiu Xuanye to find her father. Tingzhou is left to guard the home, but not before giving Jiu Xuanye a serious lecture about taking care of his precious miss. Elsewhere, Chu Youhuang and his crew finally locate Gao Sheng, but… he's dead! Eyes gouged out, hair chopped off. Creepy, right? Chu Youhuang is definitely puzzled.
Later that night, Duan Banxia and Jiu Xuanye are camping out. Duan Banxia muses that the cat demon might not be all bad, but Jiu Xuanye is firm: taking lives is evil, period. Spooky children's rhymes fill the air, freaking Duan Banxia out. Jiu Xuanye, sensing her fear, pretends it's cold and offers to stay in the carriage with her. Smooth move! Duan Banxia asks him to draw a protective charm on her hand, since the last one was destroyed fighting the mirror demon. Jiu Xuanye obliges immediately, which surprises Duan Banxia. He says this place is particularly dangerous. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
The next day, they're lost! Jiu Xuanye uses some potion to see two ginseng spirits and asks them for directions. Duan Banxia, peeking with one eye, finds the spirits adorable. Back in the carriage, she reveals that she used to be unable to see demons until a young man saved her from a big bad demon. His blood dripped into her eye, giving her the sight. She wants to know about Jiu Xuanye's past, but he claims to have amnesia, losing his memories before the age of twelve after a bad fever. Convenient!
As night falls, they stumble upon Feng Wuniang's place. Her father, Feng Tian, initially refuses them, claiming the place is under renovation. But Feng Wuniang insists it's fate and welcomes them, giving them a tour. She even invites them to stay a few extra days to enjoy the scenery and eat some loquats.
Jiu Xuanye is suspicious. He smells something funny in their room. Duan Banxia identifies it as "nourishing spirit incense." Odd, considering they're supposedly renovating and have no guests.
Chi Xue asks Feng Wuniang for some food and suggests the hot spring for a rest. Feng Wuniang happily agrees. Feng Tian, however, is not thrilled about these guests, sensing something is off. But Feng Wuniang insists it's just business.
Duan Banxia tries to get rid of the incense, but Jiu Xuanye says it's no use. Even the candles are infused with it, and his Wu Xiang Shui won't work. Feng Wuniang then invites them to the hot spring. Duan Banxia wants to decline, but Jiu Xuanye accepts, not bothering to correct Feng Wuniang's assumption that they're a couple. On the way, Duan Banxia thinks she sees a cat, and Jiu Xuanye uses this as an excuse to ask Feng Wuniang if they have cats, since Duan Banxia is supposedly afraid of them. Feng Wuniang denies it.
While the maids are helping Duan Banxia change, they compliment her beauty. Feng Wuniang dismisses them but can't help but admit that Duan Banxia is prettier than anyone she's ever seen.
Jiu Xuanye, uninterested in the hot spring, leaves Chi Xue there and wanders around. He overhears some maids gossiping about how handsome the previous guest was and how attractive these new ones are. Distracted, Jiu Xuanye bumps into someone who drops something. The person, who's covering their eyes, insists they're fine. After they leave, Jiu Xuanye spots a black cat and follows it.
The cat leads him to a storage room, but Feng Tian blocks his way. Meanwhile, in the hot spring, Duan Banxia remembers a dream and suspects that Man Ying is actually Jiu Xuanye. Suddenly, she finds an eyeball-like object and screams! Jiu Xuanye rushes to her rescue, abandoning his investigation of the storage room.
Feng Wuniang brings medicine and apologizes, offering to stay and take care of Duan Banxia, but Jiu Xuanye kicks her out. Duan Banxia feels like everyone is being a little too friendly. Jiu Xuanye asks what she saw, and she shows him the "eyeball," which turns out to be just a wooden ball.
Jiu Xuanye makes ginger tea for Duan Banxia and overhears her reciting the spell he taught her. He's about to leave when he hears a servant outside, claiming to be checking on them and offering more charcoal. Jiu Xuanye realizes they're being watched and pretends to be a loving husband. He figures the servant wouldn't have shown himself unless he'd been discovered.
Jiu Xuanye realizes that Duan Banxia is just nervous without Tingzhou around.
Thoughts and Theories:
- What's up with the nourishing spirit incense? Is it masking something, or is it meant to make them vulnerable?
- Who was the person Jiu Xuanye bumped into, and what did they drop?
- What's in the storage room?
- Why is Feng Tian so against them staying there?
- And most importantly, what's the deal with Feng Wuniang? Is she genuinely hospitable, or is she hiding something sinister?
