Episode Summary
Jian Xiansheng skillfully defeats the Southern Border Poison Emperor's trap and obtains the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord's core after promising to help the Southern Border against Nangong Ye. Jian Xiansheng is revealed to be Wangquan Hongye, the masked Young Master of Wangquan Villa. Dongfang Huaizhu arranges a future meeting with him. Meanwhile, Nangong Ye plots to seize power, leveraging his control over the Inspection Department and planning a treacherous "Sword Opening Ceremony" to eliminate Wangquan Hongye. Dongfang Huaizhu faces a dilemma regarding Nangong Ye's offer of alliance while worrying about her friend Yang Yan, whose lover was arrested by Nangong's forces. Wangquan Hongye prepares to attend Nangong Ye's dangerous ceremony.
Spoiler Alert
(Spoilers ahead for Episode 2!)
Right off the bat, our main trio manages to bust out of that nasty poison formation just as it seals itself up again. Dongfang Huaizhu is naturally worried sick about Jian Xiansheng (our mysterious Sword Master dude) still stuck inside. But surprise! Jian Xiansheng is apparently way more badass than she realized. It doesn't take him long to completely dismantle the Nan Chui Du Huang's (that's the Southern Border Poison Emperor's) toxic trap.
The Poison Emperor is genuinely taken aback by Jian Xiansheng's skill – so much so that he actually develops a bit of respect for the guy's talent and decides maybe not to just slaughter him and his companions. A little professional courtesy among powerful beings, perhaps?
However, Jian Xiansheng didn't come all this way for nothing; he's after the demon core belonging to Bai Mu Yao Jun (the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord). The Poison Emperor is fiercely protective of his own and has zero intention of letting Jian Xiansheng succeed, even if refusing means provoking the powerful Nangong family into attacking his Southern Border territory. There's mention of a four-character prophecy ("Mie Qing Zhu Hen, Yong Ye Jiang Lin" - something like "Extinguish emotions, pursue hatred, eternal night descends") warning humans and demons to stop fighting, but the Poison Emperor just scoffs at it.
Just then, Bai Mu Yao Jun himself shows up with Du Niangzi (Poison Lady). He seems conflicted, and Jian Xiansheng pushes him over the edge with a promise: if he gets the demon core, he'll do everything in his power to save the Southern Border and make Nangong Ye pay for his actions. Hearing this, Bai Mu Yao Jun willingly offers up his demon core, choosing to atone for his past sins and revert to a simple, powerless little spider. Dongfang Huaizhu gently hands the spider over to Du Niangzi, suggesting they can start fresh at Zhaixing Lou (Star-Picking Tower), giving him a chance for a new beginning.
Now, Dongfang Huaizhu's special spiritual fire has poison-resistant properties, so she was okay inside the formation. Jian Xiansheng, however, spent too much time in there and is definitely showing signs of being poisoned. Dongfang Huaizhu gives him a small pill, telling him to take it and circulate his energy to detoxify. Before parting, she subtly etches two lines of characters onto his sword scabbard, asking him to meet her at Huai Shui Zhu Ting (Huai River Bamboo Pavilion) on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Ooh, a secret rendezvous!
The Poison Emperor, being the sharp-eyed guy he is, figures out Jian Xiansheng's true origins despite his attempt to hide his identity by using a different sword style. He recognizes the technique belongs to the Wangquan family. "Sword from Wangquan, Fire from Dongfang," he observes, realizing these two are likely there to help his territory against Nangong Ye, who's been slaughtering demons big and small. Payback seems to be coming for Nangong Ye.
Speaking of Nangong, his son (Nangong Shaozhu) is busy hunting down lesser demons when he's intercepted by Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan. Nangong Ye's men are easily defeated, and Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan even manage to snatch a map detailing Nangong Ye's sword furnace setup.
Time for a big reveal! "Jian Xiansheng" is actually Wangquan Hongye, the young master of Wangquan Villa! He's been deeply troubled by a recurring dream and wears a mask to conceal his identity, as do his companions Li Zizai and Li Quzhuo. After getting the map, Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan hurry back to Potian Guan (Heaven-Breaking Temple) to meet up with Wangquan Hongye and the others.
Meanwhile, back at the Dongfang family's home base, Shenhuo Shanzhuang (Divine Fire Mountain Villa), countless suitors are sending proposals for Dongfang Huaizhu. Her younger sister, Dongfang Qinlan, and their father, Dongfang Churi, are hilariously using the fancy proposal scrolls to play cards, much to Dongfang Huaizhu's exasperation when she catches them.
Over at Wangquan Villa, things are a bit tense. The actual head of the family, Wangquan Shouzhuo, is missing. The official story is that he's "traveling," but Wangquan Hongye is currently acting as the head. During a meeting with other prominent family leaders, Fei Guanjia (Butler Fei) warns Wangquan Hongye to be wary of Nangong Ye, suspecting he has ambitions to seize power.
Nangong Ye immediately brings up attacking the Southern Border again. However, Wangquan Hongye smoothly presents the Poison Emperor's letter of surrender and Bai Mu Yao Jun's demon core, effectively using them as proof that the threat is neutralized and shutting down the invasion plan for now.
We also get a side plot involving Dongfang Huaizhu's good friend, Yang Yan from the Tianyan Yang family. Her sweetheart, Mu Xiaowu, was working construction in some mines and had a moment of compassion, letting a small demon escape. Someone reported him, and he was arrested by the Jicha Si (Inspection Department). The problem? The Nangong family controls the Jicha Si, using it as a tool to pressure other families, including Wangquan Villa. The Yang family doesn't have enough influence to intervene for Mu Xiaowu, leaving Yang Yan deeply worried. Dongfang Huaizhu reassures her friend that they'll find a solution.
Nangong Ye, ever the schemer, sees an opportunity to weaken the Wangquan family by bringing the long-secluded Shenhuo Shanzhuang (the Dongfang family) into his camp. He believes that once his powerful, specially forged demon sword is ready, it will be time to reveal his true ambitions. He approaches Dongfang Huaizhu directly with a bold proposition: help him capture and kill Wangquan Hongye, and he'll grant her any request she desires. This puts her in a terrible position, especially while she's already stressed about helping Yang Yan.
Soon after, an invitation arrives for Wangquan Hongye: attend Nangong Ye's "Sword Opening Ceremony" in ten days. Wangquan Hongye instantly recognizes this as a "Hongmen Yan" – a feast that's actually a trap, an assassination attempt waiting to happen. He instructs Butler Fei to tell Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan to prepare; they'll be accompanying him.
