Episode Summary
Qingmu Yuan is critically injured by demon poison originating from Zhang Zheng. While she's unconscious, Zhang Zheng confesses his feelings. Wangquan Hongye and Li Quzhu retrieve the rare Udumbara flower stamen, allowing Dongfang Huaizhu to cure Qingmu Yuan. This near-tragedy makes Zhang Zheng decide to fully embrace Qingmu Yuan.
Spoiler Alert
Qingmu Yuan's Brush with Death & Zhang Zheng's Awakening
We picked up with Qingmu Yuan in a really bad way, seriously injured. Before she lost consciousness, she managed to press a jade pendant into Zhang Zheng's hand, basically telling him she wasn't ready to say goodbye. My heart! Thankfully, Dongfang Huaizhu, ever the skilled physician, rushed over, found a faint pulse (phew!), and got her to the Ruyi Pavilion for urgent care. Wangquan Hongye and Li Quzhu immediately knew they had a mission: find the life-saving herbs.
Back at Ruyi Pavilion, Zhang Zheng was desperately pouring his own spiritual energy into Qingmu Yuan to stabilize her heart meridian. Then came a devastating blow, courtesy of Qingmu Yuan's maid: the demon poison that was killing Qingmu Yuan? It actually came from Zhang Zheng himself. Talk about a gut punch. Already injured and now hit with this guilt bomb, Zhang Zheng literally coughed up blood. Later, sitting by her bedside, he finally, finally opened up and confessed his true feelings. And get this – even though Qingmu Yuan was still unconscious, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She heard him, y'all!
The Miraculous Cure and a New Beginning
Meanwhile, the dynamic sister duo, Huaizhu and Qin Lan, were brewing up the antidote. They had almost everything, except for the super rare, once-in-a-century Udumbara flower stamen. Not only is this thing incredibly hard to find, but it's also guarded by some seriously nasty beasts, so Qin Lan was understandably freaking out. Just as they were stressing, Wangquan Hongye and Li Quzhu reappeared, looking like they’d gone twelve rounds with a demon bear, but they had the Udumbara stamen! Success!
Huaizhu quickly finished the medicine, and it worked! Qingmu Yuan's demon poison was neutralized. Sensibly, everyone decided to let her rest and planned to visit the next day. When Qingmu Yuan finally opened her eyes, Zhang Zheng was right there by her side. This whole ordeal seems to have been the ultimate wake-up call for Zhang Zheng. He’s done pushing her away and is ready to fully embrace her. It’s about time!
Power Shifts and Dark Plots
Over in the Yuyao Kingdom, things got messy. The ruler, Daluo An, was assassinated by Anayan, leaving the kingdom without a leader and in total chaos. Wangquan Hongye and his crew managed to get the rampaging resentful spirits under control. In the power vacuum, Daluo An's brother, Prince Bumu, stepped up as the new ruler. His first act? Inviting Wangquan Hongye and his companions to the underground palace the very next day. Intriguing!
Elsewhere, the Black Fox was having a meltdown over Jiu Huo's latest failure. Jiu Huo, however, claimed he had a new plan: he’d sever the connection between the Black Bitterness Tree and the regular Bitterness Tree. This, in theory, would allow the Black Fox to access the power of the Bitterness Tree from within the protective circle. The major downside? This little maneuver would consume a massive amount of Jiu Huo's already severely depleted demon power (his yaoli). Jiu Huo tried to reassure the Black Fox it was no big deal (spoiler: it probably is). The Black Fox actually softened his tone, apologized for his earlier outburst, and even tried to play the sympathy card, but Jiu Huo seemed completely oblivious to the manipulation.
Jiu Huo's Heartbreak and Resolve
We got a glimpse into Jiu Huo's tortured soul as he pondered when exactly his feelings for Jialan began. Was it when she grew into a woman? Or perhaps when she fiercely defended him for three days and nights straight? Or maybe it was when she slayed a dragon for him (because that’s a normal Tuesday, right?). Regardless of the when, his determination is absolute: he will bring Jialan back, even if it costs him everything, even if he’s shattered in the process.
Secrets of the Underground Palace
True to his word, Prince Bumu led Wangquan Hongye and Dongfang Huaizhu to the entrance of the Yuyao Kingdom's infamous underground palace. Holding the royal seal, Bumu hesitated at a powerful barrier. Wangquan Hongye, sensing his unease, assured him that he had no hidden agenda against the Yuyao Kingdom; his sole purpose was to uncover the origins of the Black Fox. Reassured, Prince Bumu led them into the secret chamber.
And what they found was a history lesson written in horrifying murals. It turns out, the Old Ancestor Beishan had unearthed the remains of two ancient dragons and used their resentful energy (that nasty yuanqi) to corrupt Jiu Huo. He then trapped Jiu Huo in the underground palace using some incredibly cruel methods. Later, Jialan, desperate to save him, stormed the palace, killing everyone in her path, completely unaware that she was walking straight into a trap.
This Old Ancestor Beishan was apparently a prodigy in formations and talismans. He created the "Myriad Spirits Array" using the blood of ten thousand demons. Then, using the imprisoned Jiu Huo as bait, he lured Jialan into this deadly array. Once she was trapped, Jialan was sacrificed. Her immense power was then siphoned off to grant Old Ancestor Beishan and the entire Yuyao Kingdom their unique ability to control demons. Jiu Huo was forced to witness Jialan's death, completely powerless to stop it. No wonder the man has been so haunted and unwilling to revisit the memories of what happened in that accursed place.
Phew! What an episode! Qingmu Yuan is safe (for now), Zhang Zheng has had a change of heart, and the dark history of Jiu Huo, Jialan, and the Yuyao Kingdom is finally coming to light. Can't wait to see what happens next!
Okay, here's a short summary of "Love in Pavilion" Episode 27, followed by the requested list of names and terms.
