Episode Summary
The episode was packed with sacrifice and betrayal. Wangquan Zui gave her life to save Yang Yitan using their red thread bond. Heihu then manipulated the grieving Yang Yitan, using his Tianyan to torment Wangquan Hongye. In a final act of heroism, Yang Yitan destroyed his own Tianyan to free Hongye, dying in the process. With Dongfang Huaizhu's crucial help purifying dark energy, Wangquan Hongye managed to defeat Heihu and destroy the Black Bitterness Tree. However, Huaizhu, depleted of her spiritual power, rushed back to Shenhuo Shanzhuang only to find the villainous Jin Renfeng had murdered Dongfang Churi and the Old Villa Master, stolen their powers (including the Pure Yang Flame), and taken control. Jin Renfeng now plans to forcibly marry both Huaizhu and Dongfang Qinlan and then challenge Wangquan Hongye. To protect her impulsive sister, Huaizhu knocked Qinlan out and had to play along with Jin Renfeng's schemes for the time being.
Spoiler Alert
We kick things off with the heartbreaking situation involving Wangquan Zui. She had vowed to protect everyone, but in this desperate moment, she realizes she can only truly save the one still clinging to life: Yang Yitan. In a deeply moving act, she uses "Zhe Meng" (that's the Hibernation Dream technique) on him. She enters his dreamscape, using the red thread fate bond they formed back in Tushan – remember that significant purchase? – to literally reconnect with his consciousness and pull him back from the brink. One end of the thread is on her hand, the other on him. And it works! She manages to bring Yang Yitan back to his senses... but, in the ultimate sacrifice, her own life fades away. I'm not crying, you are!
Just to twist the knife further, that absolute menace Heihu (Black Fox) makes sure Wangquan Hongye witnesses Wangquan Zui's tragic death. Yang Yitan, as you can imagine, is utterly devastated. Heihu, ever the opportunist, has seized control of his Tianyan (Heavenly Eye). This is a massive deal because it allows her to see everyone's weaknesses and even predict their actions – which finally explains how she was always a step ahead of Wangquan Hongye's attacks in their previous encounters! The dark, demonic aura from Heihu then flows from Yang Yitan's compromised Tianyan straight into Wangquan Hongye's eyes, plunging him into an abyss of unbearable pain and crushing self-blame.
Wangquan Hongye is completely losing it. He sees his own hands, stained with blood, and is tormented by the accusatory voices of his comrades from the Masked Group. A suffocating black mist envelops him, and his sanity begins to crumble. Heihu, reveling in his despair, subtly manipulates him into picking up his sword, intending for him to take his own life. Just as he’s about to point the blade at his own throat, Yang Yitan, in a final, heroic act, grabs the sword, jolting Wangquan Hongye back to reality. Then, in a scene that’s incredibly hard to watch, Yang Yitan gouges out his own Tianyan and crushes it in his hand. With this sacrifice, the demonic influence clouding Wangquan Hongye's eyes vanishes, but Yang Yitan... he dies too. Two incredible sacrifices in such a short span. This episode is just brutal.
Heihu, naturally, becomes even more arrogant and brazen with Yang Yitan gone. She presses her advantage against Wangquan Hongye, but he manages to repel her with a powerful wave of sword energy. Not to be outdone, Heihu starts absorbing power from the Kuqing Shu (the Bitterness Tree) within the mystical circle, attempting to bolster her own strength for the showdown. As she draws its power, the tree ominously begins to wither.
But hold on, Dongfang Huaizhu isn't about to let that happen without a fight! She calls forth the Xiwu Hua (Evening Fog Flower) from within her body to purify the overwhelming hate energy. And here’s a fantastic twist: because of her intervention, all the spells Heihu launches at Wangquan Hongye from outside the circle actually end up strengthening Wangquan Hongye's defensive formation instead! Talk about an uno reverse card! Wangquan Hongye seizes this critical moment. He unleashes a devastating attack, the "Heaven and Earth Sword" – a technique that literally burns his own life force – and strikes Heihu. Then, with every last bit of his remaining strength, he channels his sword energy to cut down the Hei Kuqing Shu (the Black Bitterness Tree). And just like that, Heihu is finally defeated.
With Heihu vanquished, the Kuqing Shu inside the circle begins to heal; love starts to grow, and hate recedes. Dongfang Huaizhu knows Heihu's power has been significantly weakened, but she's still deeply concerned about the fate of the Masked Group. Tushan Yaya offers to take her to Tianmen Guan to find out what happened, but, as always in these dramas, peace is short-lived. Messengers suddenly arrive from Shenhuo Shanzhuang (Divine Fire Mountain Villa) with dire news: the Old Villa Master is critically ill, and Dongfang Huaizhu must return immediately.
Huaizhu, her spiritual energy completely depleted from the recent events, rushes back to Shenhuo Shanzhuang. And who does she find has taken full advantage of the turmoil? None other than the despicable Jin Renfeng. This guy! He concocts a story that Dongfang Churi went into a qi deviation during cultivation and that he, Jin Renfeng, is magnanimously using his own true qi to keep Dongfang Churi alive. He then directs Huaizhu to go and see Dongfang Qinlan first.
Huaizhu goes to Lanzhu Yuan (Orchid Bamboo Courtyard) and removes the immobilization talisman that had been placed on Dongfang Qinlan. Soon after, Xiao Dong brings a young woman named Yu Ping, ostensibly to serve them. However, it's pretty clear she's there to monitor their actions. Huaizhu, ever insightful, decides to keep Yu Ping by her side, sensing the girl is acting under duress and choosing not to make things harder for her.
It's a good thing Huaizhu showed compassion, because Yu Ping soon reveals the horrifying truth: Dongfang Churi hasn't been kept alive by Jin Renfeng at all. In fact, Jin Renfeng murdered him and then stole the vital blood essence from his body – the very essence that allowed Dongfang Churi to control the incredibly powerful Chunzhi Yangyan (Pure Yang Flame).
The full extent of Jin Renfeng's treachery is laid bare: he has orchestrated a complete takeover of Shenhuo Shanzhuang. He killed the Old Villa Master and, through some vile blood-swapping method, stole the Old Master's vital blood as well, allowing him to master the Chunzhi Yangyan himself. But this power-hungry madman isn't finished. His grand plan now includes marrying both Dongfang Huaizhu and Dongfang Qinlan (major creep alert!) and then challenging Wangquan Hongye. Dongfang Huaizhu, with her spiritual powers utterly exhausted, is no match for Jin Renfeng in her current state. She's consumed by grief and a burning desire for revenge, wanting nothing more than to destroy him. However, her sharp intellect tells her that any rash move now would mean death for both herself and Qinlan.
Qinlan, fiery and impulsive, can barely control her urge to go after Jin Renfeng and kill him. To protect her sister from her own rage and ensure her safety, Huaizhu makes the difficult decision to temporarily knock Qinlan unconscious. She then instructs Yu Ping to tell Xiao Dong that Qinlan has merely fallen ill, a desperate attempt to prevent Jin Renfeng from becoming suspicious.
