Episode Summary
Episode 31 sees Dongfang Huaizhu determined to go to Tushan despite the grave danger the Xiwu flower poses to her, while Wangquan Hongye plans to venture "out of the circle" alone. However, the Masked Group, after a final emotional gathering, surprises Hongye by joining him. As they enter the perilous, dark outer circle, Huaizhu proceeds with her own dangerous mission at Tushan, unaware that Jin Renfeng is plotting to poison Dongfang Churi. In the outer circle, Hongye tragically finds his father, Wangquan Shouzhu, already gone. The episode culminates in a fierce battle with the Black Fox, where the group suffers a devastating blow due to a shocking betrayal: Yang Yitan, controlled by the Black Fox, compromises their defenses, leading to their defeat.
Spoiler Alert
Love, Sacrifice, and a Risky Plan
The episode kicks off with some heavy news: the Xiwu flower is now deeply intertwined with Dongfang Huaizhu's very essence. Forcing it out would not only wreck her physically but also cripple her powers, potentially halting her cultivation progress forever. Naturally, Wangquan Hongye is dead set against her going to the Tushan Keqing Tree. But Huaizhu, ever the strong-willed heroine, believes she has her own path and trusts that even with diminished powers, Hongye will be there to protect her.
One Last Hurrah for the Masked Group
Before they embark on their dangerous mission "out of the circle," the Masked Group has one final get-together at the somewhat rundown but incredibly warm Potian Guan. Qingmu Yuan goes all out, preparing a feast. Wangquan Hongye and Dongfang Huaizhu are fashionably late, greeted by a chorus of "Welcome, Big Brother and Sister-in-law!" from the others. The drinks flow freely, and everyone gets pretty tipsy. Hongye, ever the strategist, even makes sure to pour more booze down Qingmu Yuan's throat to prevent her from spilling the beans about all the things he did behind the scenes to woo Huaizhu. Sneaky, sneaky!
Later that night, with the others passed out, Huaizhu and Hongye share a quiet moment under the beautiful moon. While Huaizhu admires the view, Hongye can only see her. Though he doesn't say it out loud, Huaizhu knows his plan: he intends to venture out of the circle alone, leaving her safely inside, so they can coordinate from both sides.
Whispers of the Heart and Future Hopes
Meanwhile, other members of the group are dealing with their own personal matters. Li Zizai stumbles upon over a thousand talismans hidden under Li Quzhu's bed, and more curiously, a sachet that Li Quzhu has been looking at quite often. Li Zizai teases him about which girl it might belong to.
Yang Yitan and Wangquan Zui are still on for their wedding on the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, planning to tie the knot as soon as they return from their mission. Deng Qiyue has been busy carving wooden swords, intending to give them to his daughter upon his return. And Li Quzhu? He's lost in thought, wondering whether to give that mysterious sachet to Qin Lan and how she might react, eventually drifting off to sleep.
Venturing into the Unknown
True to Huaizhu's intuition, Wangquan Hongye, masked and on his sword, speeds towards the Yiqi Dao Alliance's border city in the Xichui region. An old Daoist guardian tries to stop him with a "Heaven's Gate" spell, but Hongye, being the powerhouse he is, easily breaks through. Just then, the rest of the Masked Group shows up! Turns out, they knew Hongye was trying to leave them behind to face the danger alone, so they faked their drunkenness to surprise him. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?
With a single sword strike, Hongye shatters the Daoist's Heaven's Gate formation, and the group slips through the rift into the "outer circle." At the same time, Huaizhu heads to Tushan. She knows the risks, but she’s determined. Her plan is to wait for the Black Fox to start draining the Keqing Tree, causing it to wither rapidly, and then make her move. But no sooner does Huaizhu leave, that snake Jin Renfeng orders his lackey, Xiao Dong, to poison Dongfang Churi's medicine. The plot thickens!
Darkness, Despair, and a Father's Legacy
The outer circle is as ominous as it sounds – dark, shrouded in heavy fog, and reeking of despair and death. Li Zizai uses his gourd to clear a path, revealing a horrifying sight: a black Keqing Tree. Wangquan Hongye takes Yang Yitan to scout ahead, ordering the others to stay put. Yang Yitan, with his Heaven's Eye, discovers a hidden barrier. Opening it, they find Wangquan Shouzhu, Hongye's father, sitting there with his eyes closed. Hongye is too late; his father's image fades before him, and he picks up his father's Wangquan Sword. A truly heartbreaking moment.
The Black Fox Strikes and a Shocking Betrayal
Just as they're processing this, the Black Fox attacks with ferocious intensity. Wangquan Hongye immediately tells Wangquan Zui to set up a defensive formation. But here comes the gut punch: Yang Yitan, who had apparently been controlled by the Black Fox while still inside the circle, suddenly has his demonic energy activated by the enemy. Controlled by the Black Fox, Yang Yitan creates a crack in their defensive formation, which the Black Fox then shatters completely. No! Not Yang Yitan!
The group is sent flying, leaving Wangquan Hongye to face the Black Fox alone. He soon realizes, to his horror, that the Black Fox seems to anticipate his every move. He manages to land an unexpected blow, injuring the Black Fox, but it's not enough – as long as hatred persists, the Black Fox cannot be truly killed. Elsewhere on the battlefield, Qingmu Yuan is defeated by the Black Fox, coughing up blood.
Things are looking incredibly grim for our heroes. How will they overcome an enemy that knows their moves and a devastating betrayal from within their ranks? We'll have to wait and see!
