Episode Summary
Bai Jiusi and Li Qingyue's investigation leads them to a demon named The Red Lotus at the Lan Yue Pavilion. Obsessed with a man named Li Mo who never returned her affection, The Red Lotus kidnaps Li Qingyue into an illusionary realm, forcing Bai Jiusi to summon Li Mo in exchange for his release. Bai Jiusi enters the illusion to save him, only for both to become trapped. They begin watching The Red Lotus's memories of her past with Li Mo, searching for a clue to escape.
Spoiler Alert
Feud: Episode 8 Recap & Spoilers: The Heart of the Crimson Lotus
The investigation into a mysterious death takes a sharp turn as Bai Jiusi and Li Qingyue are drawn into the intoxicating and dangerous world of a demon named The Red Lotus, whose tragic past holds the key to her deadly present. Trapped in an illusionary realm, they must uncover the secrets of her history with a man named Li Mo to have any hope of escape.
The episode opens with Bai Jiusi and Li Qingyue at the home of the latest victim. The man's grieving widow tells them he was a frequent patron of the city's most lavish brothel, the Lan Yue Pavilion, and begs them to capture the monster responsible for his death.
That night, the duo arrives at the Lan Yue Pavilion. Li Qingyue is baffled to find the place teeming with guests, a stark contrast to the deserted city streets where fear of the demon runs rampant. As they settle in, Bai Jiusi explains the nature of their target, a demon named The Red Lotus (the Crimson Lotus). She requires the heart's blood of a poet to soothe an eternal pain. As if on cue, the music swells and The Red Lotus herself appears on stage. Her dance is a mesmerizing blend of seductive allure and heartbreaking vulnerability, captivating every man in the room—except for two.
Li Qingyue, ever the pragmatist, suggests they seize her immediately. Bai Jiusi cautions him that the woman on stage is merely a clone, a doppelgänger, and capturing it would be pointless. Their apparent disinterest does not go unnoticed. The Red Lotus, intrigued by the men who are immune to her charms, approaches their table and personally invites Li Qingyue to join her upstairs for a private drink. He accepts.
Later, Li Qingyue learns from his time with her that The Red Lotus is waiting for someone. He presses Bai Jiusi for information, and while Bai Jiusi knows who she awaits, he refuses to summon them. Li Qingyue’s curiosity then turns to The Red Lotus's past: why was she sealed away in the Prison of Illusions? Bai Jiusi recounts a painful memory of how he and the Four Spirits once worked together to imprison her after she unleashed a devastating plague upon the world. The mention of his past with the Four Spirits is enough to spark a familiar pang of jealousy in Li Qingyue.
That night, The Red Lotus makes her move. She slips into their room and spirits the sleeping Li Qingyue away into an illusionary realm of her own creation. There, she shows him fragments of her past, a montage of countless lovers who ultimately treated her with callous indifference. These experiences forged her belief that all men are heartless. Yet, there was one exception: a man named Li Mo. No matter what she did, she could never win his affection, and this failure became her deepest obsession.
When Bai Jiusi realizes Li Qingyue is gone, he tracks down The Red Lotus. She presents him with an ultimatum: she will hold Li Qingyue hostage until Bai Jiusi brings Li Mo to her. Left with no choice, Bai Jiusi performs a blood spell to summon Li Mo. With her demand met, The Red Lotus opens a gateway to her illusionary realm. Without a moment's hesitation, Bai Jiusi steps inside. Amidst a sea of phantoms, he instantly identifies the real Li Qingyue, but his relief is short-lived. They are both now trapped, completely at the mercy of The Red Lotus's power.
Meanwhile, a separate plot unfolds. Zhang Suan approaches Qu Xingman, carrying a letter from Meng Chu that asks for her help in accessing the Ninth Heaven. The letter is persuasive enough for Qu Xingman to open the path—the Heaven-Ascending Ladder. Zhang Suan is fully aware of the horrific price for using the ladder: a transformation so agonizing it threatens the complete annihilation of one's body and soul. To secure her continued cooperation, Zhang Suan makes a deal. He promises to be a regular messenger for her and Meng Chu, but he seals the arrangement by poisoning her, making her dependent on a monthly antidote that only he can provide.
Back in the illusion, trapped with no obvious escape, Bai Jiusi and Li Qingyue begin to witness The Red Lotus's memories of her time with Li Mo. They decide to watch, hoping to find a weakness or a clue. They see Li Mo discover the reason for The Red Lotus's violent acts. Instead of simply punishing her, he resolves to find a cure for the deep-seated aura of resentment that clings to her. The two spend a great deal of time together, and though The Red Lotus constantly tries to seduce him, Li Mo gently rebuffs her, claiming his life is dedicated to spiritual cultivation, not romantic entanglements. Li Qingyue watches, skeptical that anyone could truly be so detached. As they observe what appears to be a moment of peaceful connection between Li Mo and The Red Lotus, the memory abruptly shatters as The Red Lotus cries out in excruciating pain.
