Episode Summary
In a devastating turn of events, Fan Ling'er reveals to Li Qingyue that she is merely a substitute for a woman from Bai Jiusi's past named Si Ling. After a fight that leads her into a demon prison, this horrifying truth is confirmed when Bai Jiusi arrives to save her. Heartbroken and betrayed, Li Qingyue banishes Fan Ling'er to a desolate abyss. With her trust in Bai Jiusi shattered, she must nonetheless form a tense alliance with him to hunt down a dangerous demon, the Red Lotus, who has escaped into the mortal realm and begun a killing spree.
Spoiler Alert
Feud Episode 7 Recap: The Weight of a Lie
This episode unravels a devastating truth that shatters Li Qingyue's world, while a sinister new threat emerges from the shadows. Betrayal, heartbreak, and a desperate hunt drive the action forward, leaving relationships in tatters.
The episode opens with Fan Ling'er leading a wary Li Qingyue into a room filled with priceless jewelry. She sits Li Qingyue before a mirror, where an illusion of the "Four Spirits" (Si Ling) appears. Fan Ling'er recounts a story of Bai Jiusi's past with this mysterious figure, making it clear that she believes Li Qingyue is nothing more than a stand-in. The sudden revelation leaves Li Qingyue stunned, but in her panic, she notices something chilling: Fan Ling'er's shadow is identical to that of the assassin who tried to kill her.
With her cover blown, Fan Ling'er attacks. Li Qingyue, whose powers have grown, manages to defend herself. During the struggle, she accidentally stumbles into Yu Fa Xu, a prison for powerful demons. There, she meets what appears to be a harmless little girl. However, Li Qingyue's instincts scream that something is wrong. She feigns trust to test the girl, who soon drops the facade, revealing her true form: a vicious old woman. The demon, sensing Bai Jiusi's aura on Li Qingyue, attacks with brutal ferocity. Just as Li Qingyue is about to be overwhelmed, Fan Jiaojiao—Fan Ling'er's mother—appears and helps restrain the demon long enough for Li Qingyue to strike the killing blow.
Meanwhile, Ning Yan learns of the danger and rushes to inform Bai Jiusi, who is in meditative seclusion. Without a moment's hesitation, Bai Jiusi abandons his training and risks his own safety to rescue Li Qingyue. He arrives just as the dying demon plays its final, cruel card. Facing Bai Jiusi, it taunts him, calling Li Qingyue a mere "substitute" for Si Ling. The word pierces Li Qingyue's heart, confirming her deepest fear.
The fallout is immediate and painful. Elsewhere, Zhang Suan declares his intention to ascend to the Nine Heavens, confessing to his peers that he has fallen in love with Li Qingyue. They are stunned to learn he loves the same woman as Bai Jiusi and try to dissuade him, arguing that his current power is no match for the dangers she faces.
Back in the celestial realm, Fan Ling'er is brought before Bai Jiusi for judgment. Her mother, Fan Jiaojiao, pleads for mercy, but Bai Jiusi leaves the decision to Li Qingyue. Cold with fury and heartbreak, Li Qingyue banishes Fan Ling'er to the Abyss of Gui Xu, a desolate land of no return. To everyone's surprise, Fan Ling'er walks into her exile with unnerving calm, completely unafraid.
Later, Bai Jiusi questions Li Qingyue about the demon she fought, the Red Lotus, which has now been unleashed from the prison. But Li Qingyue has only one question for him: who is Si Ling? Bai Jiusi's pained silence is all the answer she needs. The belief that his affection was a lie, meant for someone she merely resembles, completely shatters her. She retreats, inconsolable. When Ning Yan follows with medicine to soothe her, a distraught Li Qingyue smacks the bottle away, her trust in everyone around her broken.
The scene shifts to a rainy night in the mortal realm. A drunkard, thrown out of a tavern, stumbles through the streets. He is suddenly mesmerized by a beautiful and alluring woman in a red dress carrying an umbrella. He follows her, completely enchanted. This is the escaped demon, the Red Lotus, and she has already begun her hunt.
Determined to explain himself, Bai Jiusi dons a set of robes that Li Qingyue had made for him and goes to find her. The gesture softens her anger slightly, but she remains guarded. He tells her that the Red Lotus is loose in the mortal world and asks for her help in capturing the demon. Eager for a distraction, she agrees.
They arrive in a mortal town to find the streets eerily empty, a sign that the Red Lotus has already been at work. Li Qingyue, still nursing her jealousy over Si Ling, learns that a man named Xu Ying has already been found dead. Together, they head to the victim's home to begin their investigation, a fragile truce hanging between them.
Spoilers & Final Thoughts:
This episode delivered a massive emotional blow. Li Qingyue now believes her entire relationship with Bai Jiusi was built on a lie, and his inability to deny it has created a deep rift between them. Her decision to banish Fan Ling'er to the dreaded Abyss of Gui Xu shows a new, harder side to her character, forged by betrayal.
The introduction of the Red Lotus sets up the next major conflict. She is clearly a seductive and deadly force, and hunting her down will force Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi to work together, even with their relationship in shambles. The key questions moving forward are: Can Bai Jiusi ever regain Li Qingyue's trust? What is the full story behind Si Ling, and is she truly in the past? And as Zhang Suan nurses his own feelings from afar, will he attempt a reckless move to prove his worth? The stage is set for a tense and emotionally charged hunt.
