Episode Summary
Episode 16 introduces new demon hunters Jiang Shangyun and Xue Qiao. Duan Banxia and Xu Zhizhi encounter Jiu Xuanye, who is determined to visit the forbidden underground city despite Chi Xue's warnings. Chu Youhuang returns to the Dali Temple, where he's pressured by former colleague Sima Lingying regarding their past and a broken engagement. A mysterious paper demon attack occurs, possibly linked to the underground city. A paper crane inadvertently sent by Chi Xue leads Banxia to discover her mother's name, Tang Ruyun, sparking hope she might be alive. Chi Xue reveals to Banxia the grave secret that Xuanye's powerful Lihuo Sword shortens his lifespan with each use, explaining his white hair. Despite this, Xuanye plans to accompany Banxia to the underground city to help her, leading to an emotional confrontation.
Spoiler Alert
So, the episode kicks off by introducing a couple of new faces on the demon-hunting scene: Jiang Shangyun and Xue Qiao. We get a quick taste of their skills when they smoothly prevent a street mishap involving a kid and a vendor's cart – one catches the kid, the other saves the goods. Teamwork makes the dream work, right? These two seem pretty capable, and you just know they're going to be important later.
Meanwhile, our girl Duan Banxia is out and about with her friend Xu Zhizhi. They spot Jiu Xuanye looking all pensive while fishing (classic mysterious hero pose). Banxia, never one to shy away, strikes up a conversation. As they're leaving together, Xu Zhizhi makes sure to formally introduce herself to Xuanye. Always good to make connections!
Speaking of Xuanye, he's got his sights set on the underground city. Chi Xue, ever the concerned guardian, tries to talk him out of it, reminding him that his dad specifically forbade him from going there. But Xuanye? Yeah, he's not really listening. Stubborn as ever.
Then we shift gears to Chu Youhuang, who’s back at the Dali Temple (think ancient Chinese FBI headquarters). Song Daren, who seems to be a big shot there, is full of praise for Youhuang, mentioning he was a rising star at the Temple before... well, "that incident." Song Daren even hints that if it weren't for whatever happened, Geng Zhen wouldn't have gotten his current position. He asks Youhuang to deliver a letter and hopes he'll stick around. As Youhuang leaves, some old colleagues snag him for drinks. And who crashes the party? None other than Sima Lingying. She offers to treat everyone, citing Yue Butou's housewarming, and pointedly invites Youhuang to join the "fun."
This dinner gets awkward, fast. Sima Lingying shows up fashionably late, dressed to the nines in women's attire, which makes everyone a bit stiff. Sensing the vibe, she declares she'll just have three drinks and leave. Her toasts are loaded: first to the Emperor, second to Yue Butou for his new place, and the third, a very pointed one, to Chu Youhuang. She "congratulates" him on his success in Guangping and wishes him a speedy rise to prominence, but her tone is dripping with resentment for him leaving her behind. Ouch.
After Sima Lingying makes to leave, Yue Butou practically shoves Youhuang into escorting her. Alone, she really lets him have it, accusing him of ditching their engagement and making her the laughingstock of the capital. Youhuang's side of the story is a bit different: he saved her brother, sure, but he had no idea Sima Lingying had promised to marry whoever rescued him. Plus, he wasn't about to marry into her powerful family – he didn't want to be seen as a social climber. He tells her they're from different worlds and asks her to drop it. Their paths, he implies, just don't align.
As if their conversation wasn't dramatic enough, a fight breaks out nearby. Both Youhuang and Sima Lingying, being the capable individuals they are, jump in to stop it. Sima Lingying notices something odd: the "injured" guy on the ground has no blood on his sword. Before they can figure it out, he scrambles up, runs a few steps, and then poof – turns into a paper cutout! The crowd freaks out, screaming "Demon!" This town has seen better days.
Back to Jiu Xuanye and his underground city obsession. Chi Xue guesses he wants to go because the demon who saved Duan Banxia's father is down there. Xuanye doesn't confirm or deny, but the current problem is that the way to the underground city is flooded. Chi Xue warns him again: even when the water recedes, he shouldn't go. Xuanye, clearly annoyed, bats her hand away. In doing so, a paper crane Chi Xue had just folded flies off and lands right in Duan Banxia's hands across the way. Banxia looks up, sees only Xuanye at the window, and naturally assumes it's a romantic gesture from him. She opens it, and instead of a love note, she finds her mother's name: Tang Ruyun.
This sends Banxia straight to Xuanye. Could her mother still be alive? Is that why her father has been acting strangely and disappearing all the time? Xuanye theorizes that the Cat Demon might have swiped the note from Banxia's father, Duan Hengying, thinking it was money, and stashed it in its cash box.
Chu Youhuang, meanwhile, suspects the paper demon might have come from the underground city. He and Sima Lingying go to Song Zhilian (Song Daren) about it, but Song Daren kind of brushes it off, saying demon sightings are hardly unique. As they leave, Sima Lingying pulls the "my mother insists" card and basically orders Youhuang to come to her house, telling him to pack his stuff because she'll pick him up from his inn. This woman does not take no for an answer.
Chi Xue, still worried about Xuanye, pleads with Banxia to stop him from going to the underground city. It was his father's dying wish, she explains, and there must be a good reason for it. Banxia agrees and even considers finding other demon hunters for help, though she's not sure where to look.
Poor Chi Xue can't catch a break. While she's out shopping, those new demon hunters, Jiang Shangyun and Xue Qiao, spot her (remember, she's a demon) and give chase. She manages to escape back to Xuanye's place, but she doesn't know who her attackers were. Jiang Shangyun and Xue Qiao follow her and end up clashing with Xuanye. They quickly realize he's way out of their league in the demon-hunting department and make a hasty retreat. Just as they're leaving, Duan Banxia arrives. Xuanye tells her the two guys are demon hunters, which definitely gets Banxia thinking.
Xuanye then gives Banxia a pass to the underground city and promises to go with her in a few days. He's really going through with this.
But here comes the gut punch: Chi Xue pulls Banxia aside and reveals the terrible truth about Xuanye's power. Every time he uses his Lihuo Sword, it shaves a year off his life. That's why his hair is white. This is devastating news.
Later, Banxia is dyeing Xuanye's hair (a bittersweet moment, for sure), and she's clearly torn up inside. Xuanye, perceptive as always, notices her distress and tries to reassure her, saying his father was just being overprotective by forbidding the underground city. But Banxia can't hold it in anymore and confronts him about the Lihuo Sword and its life-shortening cost, begging him not to go. Xuanye, ever the self-sacrificing hero, gently asks how else he can save the person she wants to save. This hits Banxia hard, and she breaks down, blaming herself for dragging him into her problems.
Xuanye comforts her, telling her not to overthink things. Then, in a much-needed moment of levity after all that heavy emotion, he notices that some of the hair dye has gotten on Banxia's face... and it won't rub off. Oops!
