Episode Summary
In episode 23, guided by the deity Xi E, Bai Jiusi travels back in time to witness the tragic life Li Qingyue led after he sealed her powers. He discovers she was pregnant with their son, Shi An, and watches her struggle to raise him alone amidst war and famine. In a moment of crisis, Li Qingyue forcibly uses her sealed powers to save their son from attackers, severely injuring herself in the process. Later, when Shi An falls fatally ill, Bai Jiusi is powerless to intervene from his position as an observer. The episode culminates in the death of their son and the heroic sacrifice of Li Qingyue's loyal friend, Meng Changqin, who dies protecting her from a mob. Bai Jiusi is left devastated by the full truth of her suffering.
Spoiler Alert
Feud Episode 23 Recap: A Harrowing Journey Into a Painful Past
This Episode , Feud takes a heart-wrenching turn as Bai Jiusi is forced to confront the devastating consequences of his past actions. Guided by the powerful deity Xi E, he travels back in time to become a silent observer of the life Li Qingyue endured after he sealed her powers. What he witnesses is a tragic sequence of events that reveals the full, painful truth about their son, the loyal friend who protected her, and the unimaginable suffering she faced alone.
A Glimpse Into the Past
The episode opens with Bai Jiusi, under the guidance of Xi E, stepping into the past. He is merely a spectator, unable to interact with or change the events unfolding before him. His journey takes him to the mortal realm just three months after he sealed Li Qingyue's powers and departed. He finds her in a state of deep despair, spending her days in a drunken stupor. Her loyal companion, Meng Changqin, is by her side, caring for her diligently. After a particularly bad bout of drinking, Meng Changqin calls for a doctor, leading to a shocking revelation: Li Qingyue is pregnant. For Bai Jiusi, this is the moment he realizes she had been telling the truth all along—they truly had a child together.
The Birth and Brief Life of Shi An
Despite the sorrow of Bai Jiusi's absence, the news of her pregnancy brings a flicker of joy to Li Qingyue. Bai Jiusi watches as she endures the hardships of childbirth alone and names their son Shi An. A wave of recognition and pain hits Bai Jiusi as he realizes this is the child he would later come to know as Lin Tao. He is forced to watch from the sidelines as Shi An grows, bearing a striking resemblance to his mother. In a particularly painful scene, Bai Jiusi sees his son being bullied by other children for not having a father, and he is powerless to intervene, his heart aching with regret.
Crisis in a Time of Chaos
Determined to see the full story, Bai Jiusi continues to watch as war and famine ravage the land. Li Qingyue, having stored some grain, becomes a target for starving refugees. With her powers sealed, she is defenseless. As a desperate mob breaks down her door, she tries to escape with Shi An and Meng Changqin. Meng Changqin bravely attempts to hold back the intruders to protect them. In the ensuing chaos, a man grabs Shi An and holds a knife to him. Seeing her son in mortal danger, Li Qingyue makes a desperate choice. She forcibly breaks through the seal on her powers to unleash a blast of energy, saving her son but suffering a severe internal backlash that leaves her gravely injured.
A Mother's Desperate Plea
The tragedy deepens as the weakened Shi An falls gravely ill with a persistent high fever. With her own powers shattered and not yet recovered, Li Qingyue is unable to heal him. She promises her son that in three years, she will take him to the Ninth Heaven. In a moment of utter desperation, she kneels before a statue of the Hongmeng Father God, praying for Bai Jiusi to appear and save their child. The watching Bai Jiusi, overwhelmed with grief, tries to channel his own energy to save the boy, but the laws of time prevent his intervention, causing him to be injured by the attempt. His efforts are futile, and he is forced to watch as his son, Shi An, succumbs to his illness. As a heartbroken Li Qingyue cradles her son's lifeless body, her tears turn to blood, a testament to her profound grief.
The Final Sacrifice
Numb with loss, Li Qingyue wanders barefoot through the snow-covered streets, clutching her son's body. Malicious agitators in the crowd begin to stir up trouble, branding her a demon and inciting the townspeople to attack her. Just as the mob is about to close in, Meng Changqin appears, fighting them off to save her. However, their pursuers are relentless. In a final act of loyalty and friendship, Meng Changqin sacrifices his own life to ensure Li Qingyue can escape.
Having witnessed the full extent of Li Qingyue's suffering—the loss of her son and her dearest friend—Bai Jiusi is left emotionally shattered. This harrowing journey into the past has finally revealed the complete, devastating truth, setting the stage for his actions to come.
