Episode Summary
Dongfang Huaizhu returns, shatters the Jin Chenxi using her powers, and reunites with a relieved Wangquan Hongye. They plan to reseal the immortal Jiu Huo. While Huaizhu and Hongye share a tender moment reflecting on their changed world, Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan have a minor romantic spat. Hongye receives letters from a future Huaizhu but refuses to read them, determined to avert her future death. Tragedy strikes when Mu Mie collapses with severe internal injuries. Red-eyed Cuiyu Mingluan, who secretly cannot heal, decides to sacrifice her consciousness to let the Blue-eyed version (who can heal) emerge. As she performs the ritual, Mu Mie confesses his love for the Red-eyed version. Unexpectedly, Red-eyed Cuiyu's sacrifice turns her into the final fragment of the Jin Chenxi, making it whole again. Sensing this, Jiu Huo breaks free, ready to cause more trouble.
Spoiler Alert
Love in Pavilion: Episode 17 Recap & Spoilers
Alright, so kicking things off, Dongfang Huaizhu makes a dramatic return. She basically tells Jiu Huo he's going to seriously regret kidnapping her and bringing her to this Bi Luo City place. Then, BAM! She unleashes her Pure Yang Flame and melts the Jin Chenxi (that troublesome golden entity) into countless fragments, effectively shattering it so it's no longer whole. Badass entrance, right?
Meanwhile, Wangquan Hongye wakes up after the big fight. The very first thing he asks about is Huaizhu. Everyone around him, including Wangquan Zui, just clams up, giving him the silent treatment. Naturally, Hongye assumes the worst – that he failed and maybe lost her. But psych! Just as he's despairing, Huaizhu walks in carrying medicine. Turns out, Wangquan Zui and the others were just messing with him. A bit cruel, but hey, relief!
So, they've basically won this round. Jiu Huo, being immortal, can't be killed easily. Hongye's plan is to somehow send him back 20 years into the past and seal him up again, just like before. After the intensity, Hongye clearly wants some alone time with Huaizhu. Wangquan Zui totally picks up on the vibe and quickly gets Yang Yitan to help wheel the wheelchair-bound Li Quzhu out of there, giving the couple some space. Important note: Huaizhu still has some residual Black Fox inner energy and soul fragments inside her, and it's crucial that the Black Fox entity doesn't break free or "cross the circle."
Huaizhu and Hongye take a walk together, checking out the world 20 years later – a world where humans and spirits are coexisting peacefully. She asks him how he could go to such lengths just to save her. Hongye admits he didn't even really think about it, he just did it. Touched by his devotion, Huaizhu takes the initiative and kisses him! Aww.
Elsewhere, Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan are sharing a jug of wine. Zui playfully asks if sharing the jug counts as an indirect kiss. Yang Yitan gets flustered and won't really admit it. Zui pushes further, asking point-blank if he likes her. Yang Yitan does admit he likes her, but then he tacks on some extra words that clearly aren't what he truly feels (or maybe downplay his feelings), which just ticks Wangquan Zui off, and she storms away. Oh, these two!
Later, Li Quzhu has the task of retrieving letters that the Huaizhu from 20 years in the future wrote to Hongye. But there aren't many letters, because, tragically, in that future timeline, Huaizhu actually passed away 10 years ago (meaning 10 years into that 20-year future). Li Quzhu puts the few letters he found in a box for Hongye. However, Hongye refuses to read them. He's adamant that this bleak future is not how his story with Huaizhu will end. He believes they can change it. As for Jiu Huo, even though he's defeated for now, he's still arrogant and defiant. Hongye doesn't seem too worried about him at this point.
The group gathers for a meal, trying to relax. Suddenly, Mu Mie collapses! Huaizhu checks his pulse and realizes his internal "five elements" are shattered, and his meridians are broken – basically, he's critically messed up internally. Huaizhu knows she can't fix this herself and says they need help from Cuiyu Mingluan, who is skilled in healing arts.
Here's the twist: The current Cuiyu Mingluan is the Red-eyed version, and she doesn't actually know the healing techniques – only the Blue-eyed version does. But Red-eyed Cuiyu doesn't tell them this. She just asks for a private room where she won't be disturbed. See, Red-eyed Cuiyu had previously sealed the Blue-eyed personality away. The only way to bring Blue-eye back now is for Red-eye to essentially put herself into an eternal sleep, sacrificing her consciousness.
For Mu Mie's sake, Red-eyed Cuiyu decides to make that sacrifice and give the body back to Blue-eyed Cuiyu. As she's performing the spell, Mu Mie, despite being gravely injured, drags himself towards her. He pours his heart out, confessing his love – specifically for her, the Red-eyed Cuiyu. He loves her passion, her boldness, her straightforwardness, even her sometimes unreasonable stubbornness. He knows, deep down, she has a kind heart.
Hearing Mu Mie's heartfelt confession, Red-eyed Cuiyu is moved to tears, lamenting that it's all too late. She goes through with the sacrifice... but then something completely unexpected happens. As she sacrifices herself, she dissolves... and transforms into the final missing fragment of the Jin Chenxi, flying towards the other fragments and making the Jin Chenxi whole again! It turns out Red-eyed Cuiyu was actually a piece of the Jin Chenxi that had gained its own consciousness out of a desire to survive. Her sacrifice inadvertently restored the very thing they fought to destroy.
Jiu Huo immediately senses this restoration. He forcefully uses his dragon blood to break free from whatever restraints were holding him, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Absolutely no one saw this coming, least of all Red-eyed Cuiyu herself. If she had known sacrificing herself would make the Jin Chenxi whole again, she never would have done it.
