Episode Summary

Episode 32 was a brutal and tragic installment where the antagonist, Hei Hu, successfully manipulated multiple characters, leading to devastating consequences. Hei Hu exploited the love between Zhang Zheng and Qingmu Yuan, forcing them into a fatal confrontation where both perished. In another storyline, Li Zizai sacrificed his life to save his brother, Li Quzhuo, from Hei Hu's influence using a life-swapping talisman. Finally, Yang Yitan, under Hei Hu's control, was instrumental in the deaths of Deng Qiyue and Wangquan Zui, after Hei Hu preyed on his past trauma and hatred. The episode was marked by intense emotional suffering and significant character deaths orchestrated by Hei Hu.

Spoiler Alert

Zhang Zheng & Qingmu Yuan: A Love Story Drenched in Tragedy

So, things kick off with the ever-sinister Hei Hu having Qingmu Yuan under her control, telling her she's leading her to Zhang Zheng. Meanwhile, Zhang Zheng wakes up, and the first person he calls for? Qingmu Yuan, naturally. But he's not in a cozy spot; he's in some kind of frozen wasteland, with a lone tombstone chillingly placed before him.

Hei Hu, being the master manipulator, uses the memory of "Shaoye" (the Young Master) to prey on Zhang Zheng's weakest emotional points. While he's vulnerable, she injects him with "Yao Xi" (demonic energy/breath), cranking his hatred up to eleven.

Just when it seems he's lost, a jade pendant brings Zhang Zheng back to his senses. He remembers Shaoye's last words, his eyes clear, and he manages to break free from Hei Hu's influence, even taking a swing at her shadowy form.

But Hei Hu isn't done. She brings in Qingmu Yuan, who's now practically radiating Yao Xi, completely under Hei Hu's spell. Hei Hu is banking on Zhang Zheng being unable to hurt the woman he loves. The twisted part? The controlled Qingmu Yuan has no such reservations and is all too willing to deliver fatal blows to Zhang Zheng.

What follows is a heartbreaking battle between the two lovers. Qingmu Yuan wounds Zhang Zheng multiple times, while he’s desperately trying to defend himself and snap her out of the trance. Imagine how incredibly difficult that is! Predictably, it ends in disaster: Qingmu Yuan stabs Zhang Zheng in the heart with his own sword. Hei Hu is, of course, gloating, her words dripping with contempt as she orders Qingmu Yuan to finish him. And Qingmu Yuan does, pushing the sword deeper.

With his last ounce of strength, Zhang Zheng manages to awaken the real Qingmu Yuan. He tells her he doesn't blame her but pleads with her to remember not to be controlled by Hei Hu again. After Zhang Zheng dies, Hei Hu, relentless as ever, tries to manipulate Qingmu Yuan into killing the other members of the "Mianju Tuan" (Masked Group).

But Qingmu Yuan is no longer susceptible to Hei Hu's tricks. She decides to use her own life force to power up a magical artifact and fight back. The outcome is devastating. This deeply in-love couple both perish within the "Quan Nei" (literally "inside the circle," likely a specific domain or boundary). Seriously, my heart.

The Li Brothers: A Sacrifice of Brotherly Love

Next, we shift to Li Quzhuo and Li Zizai, who are navigating through darkness. Li Quzhuo falls a few steps behind and, wouldn't you know it, walks right into one of Hei Hu's illusions. Hei Hu, excelling at exploiting vulnerabilities and sowing discord, hits Li Quzhuo where it hurts. He starts to lose his sanity, even stabbing himself in the arm and leg.

Li Zizai manages to rouse him, but both brothers are already severely injured by Hei Hu. To save his younger brother, Li Zizai sets up a defensive array, but it's clear it won't hold for long.

Li Quzhuo then remembers something Li Zizai once told him: "Man is a vessel of heaven and earth." He decides to embody this, to become a conduit ("Yi Shen Wei Qi" - to use one's body as a vessel/instrument) to channel all of his brother Li Zizai's spiritual talismans, hoping to use the power of heaven and earth against Hei Hu. Li Quzhuo chooses to self-detonate his spiritual body.

But plot twist! He finds himself alive, but his brother, Li Zizai, is gone. It turns out Li Zizai had previously placed a "Huan Ming Fu" (Life-Swapping Talisman) on him, telling him to always keep it with him. This talisman allowed Li Zizai to exchange his life for his brother's. Cue more tears.

Yang Yitan, Wangquan Zui & Deng Qiyue: A Cascade of Betrayal and Death

The pain train doesn't stop there. Yang Yitan is also controlled by Hei Hu's Yao Xi and attacks Wangquan Zui and Deng Qiyue.

As Wangquan Zui is dying, she has a poignant vision of a happy future with Yang Yitan and their child. The beauty of this dream only makes the harsh reality even more cruel. She doesn't succumb to this illusion, though. She snaps out of it and asks Yang Yitan when Hei Hu took control of him. It happened during the fight where he killed Yang Huanzhou to save her; his immense hatred at that moment allowed Hei Hu to enter his "Tian Yan" (Heavenly Eye).

Hei Hu then tries to tempt both Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan to descend into darkness together. Just as Hei Hu is about to infiltrate Wangquan Zui's mind during her moment of agony, Deng Qiyue intervenes, striking and dispersing Hei Hu's shadowy form. This act, however, brings Hei Hu's furious retaliation upon him. The controlled Yang Yitan forces Wangquan Zui to watch as Deng Qiyue is brutalized by Hei Hu.

Then, in another cruel twist, Hei Hu controls Deng Qiyue, forcing him to try and kill Wangquan Zui. Yang Yitan, still under Hei Hu's influence, "saves" Wangquan Zui by killing Deng Qiyue. And then, Yang Yitan himself stabs Wangquan Zui.