Episode Summary
Dongfang Huaizhu masters the Pure Yang Fire, but Jin Renfeng plots to use dark arts, taught by his demon servant Cuiyu Xiaotan, and secretly keeps the damaged Golden Lotus. Haunted by warnings, Huaizhu seeks answers about her mother, Jiang Juanxue, learning she must go to Zui Meng Lou in Yuyao Country to find Er Zhuyu and the Xiwu Flower, a plan Jin Renfeng overhears. Meanwhile, Wangquan Hongye also decides to travel to Yuyao Country with Li Quzhuo to investigate the Black Fox. A flash-forward reveals a bleak future where Mu Mie and a blue-eyed Cuiyu Mingluan protect survivors in a Black Fox-ravaged world. On a lighter note, both Yang Yitan and Wangquan Zui simultaneously decide to propose to each other, much to Wangquan Hongye's amusement.
Spoiler Alert
Alright, so the episode kicks off with Dongfang Huaizhu totally mastering the Pure Yang Fire. You go, girl! But, uh oh, Jin Renfeng immediately gets ideas, basically saying out loud that maybe they don't need to be subservient to the Wangquan clan anymore. Yikes! Dongfang Churi (Huaizhu's dad, head of Shenhuo Mountain Manor) shuts that down fast. He gives a stern lecture to all the disciples: focus on compassion, help people, stay out of messy Jianghu politics, and just, you know, be decent human beings. Good advice, but you just know Jin Renfeng isn't really listening.
Meanwhile, things take a dark turn. Cuiyu Xiaotan is now officially Jin Renfeng's demon servant and is teaching him some nasty demon arts – specifically, how to absorb the power of other demons to boost his own spiritual fire. Ew. Plus, remember that Golden Lotus artifact that Li Zizai and the crew supposedly destroyed? Turns out Jin Renfeng secretly salvaged the burnt pieces, hoping they might be useful later. Sneaky!
Dongfang Huaizhu is clearly stressed. The words of Jiu Huo and the Black Fox are haunting her, so she heads to the bamboo forest for some intense sword practice therapy. Unbeknownst to her, her dad, Dongfang Churi, is watching her from the shadows.
Back to Jin Renfeng and his creepy lotus fragment. Even burnt, the thing is sharp, and he accidentally cuts his hand on it. This triggers a vision of the Sky Demon Jiu Huo, who tells him there's a way to fix the lotus if Jin Renfeng just comes to him. Jin Renfeng is skeptical (smart move, dude), but Jiu Huo basically says, "Take your time, I can wait." The temptation is definitely planted.
Huaizhu goes to check on Yang Yan. She tries to slip away unnoticed like usual, but Yang Yan catches her. Huaizhu can't bring herself to reveal the dark future she knows is coming, but she promises Yang Yan she'll protect her and her child. It's a heavy moment.
--- Fast Forward 20 Years ---
Okay, brace yourselves. We get a glimpse into the future, and it's grim. The Black Fox has arrived, and Biluo City is described as a living hell. Mu Mie and a blue-eyed version of Cuiyu Mingluan are struggling to protect a group of elderly and sick people, unsure how long they can last. Blue-eyed Cuiyu gives Mu Mie a flower crown that the red-eyed Cuiyu (presumably gone now?) made, adding that once this whole ordeal is over, she (the blue-eyed one) will also have to leave Mu Mie. So much angst!
--- Back to the "Present" Timeline ---
The Masked Group gathers at Potian Temple. Deng Qiyue is back from his investigation in the Western Regions. To figure out where this Black Fox actually came from, Wangquan Hongye decides he and Li Quzhuo need to head to Yuyao Country. The rest of the group stays behind as backup. Before leaving, Qingmu Yuan gives Wangquan Hongye a hairpin he had asked her to make earlier.
Remember how Dongfang Huaizhu asked Qingmu Yuan to look into her mother's past? Well, Qingmu Yuan found something big! It turns out Huaizhu's mother, Jiang Juanxue, was the Holy Maiden of the Beishan Sect before marrying Dongfang Churi. Apparently, Dongfang Churi gave up a huge career opportunity back in the day just to marry her and live a quiet life. He should know more about Jiang Juanxue than anyone.
However, when Huaizhu talks to her father, she realizes even he doesn't know the full story. The real answers are in a letter Jiang Juanxue left for Huaizhu. Dongfang Churi was instructed to give it to her only when she was ready to know. Huaizhu opens the letter, and plot twist! It tells her to go to the Zui Meng Lou (Drunken Dream Pavilion/Tower) in Yuyao Country, find someone named Er Zhuyu, and somehow get her hands on something called the Xiwu Flower. Only then will she get all the answers about her mother. Of course, who's eavesdropping nearby? Jin Renfeng. He clocks the keywords "Zui Meng Lou" and "Xiwu Flower," and you can practically see the evil gears turning in his head.
On a lighter, more romantic note, Wangquan Zui is clearly moping about Yang Yitan. Big brother Wangquan Hongye totally sees it and gives Yang Yitan a little nudge, telling him to think harder about what Zui really wants. Later, Li Quzhuo and Li Zizai try to get Yang Yitan drunk with some "truth serum" wine to spill his guts. But plot twist again – Yang Yitan confesses his feelings before even taking a sip! And Li Zizai, being the ultimate wingman, secretly has a communication spell open so Wangquan Zui can hear everything on the other end. Aww!
The best part? Yang Yitan and Wangquan Zui are totally in sync. Right after Yang Yitan tells Hongye he's planning to propose, Wangquan Zui also tells Hongye that she's planning to propose to Yang Yitan near the Ruyi Tower! They even use almost the exact same lines about life being short and not wanting to let feelings go unsaid. Wangquan Hongye can't help but laugh at how perfectly matched (and hilariously simultaneous) they are.
So, Episode 19 leaves us with Huaizhu and Wangquan Hongye both heading towards Yuyao Country for different reasons (but likely to cross paths!), Jin Renfeng cooking up new schemes involving Huaizhu's quest, a glimpse of a dark future, and a much-needed heartwarming double proposal setup! Can't wait to see what happens next.
