Episode Summary
With the Black Fox threat still present, a pregnant Dongfang Huaizhu believes love is the answer and reveals her condition to Wangquan Hongye, giving him renewed hope. Secretly, Huaizhu, whose health is failing, devises a plan for their child to inherit the combined powers of both their families, becoming a "Bing Ren" for the Yiqi Meng. Hongye attempts to forge peace with the demon realm, initially facing resistance from Tushan Yaya, but Tushan eventually agrees after Yaya witnesses Huaizhu's profound love. A fragile peace is established. Huaizhu gives birth to their son, Wangquan Fugui, but tragically dies in Hongye's arms shortly after, revealing that Jin Renfeng had fatally wounded her previously. Her dying wish is for Hongye to let their son choose his own path if he desires. The episode ends with a time skip, showing Fugui as a young boy training with Hongye, who is working to rebuild order between humans and demons, concluding the "Zhu Ye" arc.
Spoiler Alert
Love, Hope, and a Ticking Clock
So, we kick things off with Dongfang Huaizhu, bless her heart, still believing that love can conquer all, even the ever-looming threat of the Black Fox. She's got this idea that if hate keeps the Black Fox around, then maybe, just maybe, love is the ultimate delete button. She and Wangquan Hongye are having a sweet moment in a bamboo forest, talking baby names and dreams. Hongye, bless his reformed soul, hopes their kid doesn't end up like him. But Huaizhu? She's all in, envisioning their child as a hero, just like his dad, someone to "chase away the eternal night and save the common people." You know, casual #ParentingGoals.
Then comes the bombshell for Hongye: he's going to be a dad in about eight months! The shock is real, but man, does it light a fire under him. Suddenly, there's this tangible hope, something to pour all his energy into. He starts doting on Huaizhu, focusing on her and the baby. It's the kind of turnaround we love to see.
The Secret Plan and a Desperate Gamble
Huaizhu wants one last trip to the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion with Hongye, a callback to their happier times. But here's the gut punch she doesn't tell him: she's fading, and fast. Her life force is dwindling. So, what does our girl do? She lays out a contingency plan to the elders of the Yiqi Meng. The Dongfang family has this unique ability to pass their spiritual power to their offspring. Combine that with a special Wangquan family secret technique to awaken a "Congenital Sword Spirit," and voila! You get a child with the combined super-talents of two major families. They call this the Yiqi Meng's "Bing Ren" – basically, a "Weapon Human." Talk about pressure on the little one before they're even born!
Forging Alliances and Facing Rejection
With Huaizhu's blessing, Hongye sets off to do what he thinks is right: establish a clear boundary between the human and demon realms with the help of Tushan. He approaches Tushan Yaya to hash out a non-aggression pact. Yaya, ever the pragmatist, is initially like, "Yeah, no, that sounds like a lot of thankless work." She can vouch for Tushan's demons staying put, but the rest? Not her problem. Hongye isn't exactly floored by her refusal; not seeing Tushan Honghong there pretty much told him Tushan's initial stance.
Meanwhile, Huaizhu, ever the strategist, sends Hongye off on an errand to the Tushan market. Her real destination? The Kugin Tree (that infamous Heartbreak Tree). Tushan Yaya meets her there, fully aware that Huaizhu is running out of time. Yaya just can't wrap her head around why Huaizhu would keep pouring her own lifeblood into nurturing the baby. But with the Black Kugin Tree still standing and the Black Fox threat very much alive, Huaizhu sees her unborn child as their last, best hope. And in the little time she has left, she's going to love Wangquan Hongye with everything she's got.
A Change of Heart and a Fragile Peace
Witnessing the depth of Huaizhu and Hongye's love actually sparks something in Tushan Yaya – a flicker of understanding what love truly means. This leads to a major shift in Tushan's attitude. With Tushan now on board, and through their combined efforts with Hongye, they finally manage to draw the line between the human and demon worlds. The demon realm, apparently rich in resources, sees no need for further conflict. And so, a fragile peace settles over the lands, giving humans and demons a much-needed breather. Hongye and Huaizhu get to enjoy a period of bliss, reminiscent of their early days at the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion.
The Inevitable Goodbye
But time, as it always does, marches on. The day Huaizhu goes into labor arrives. She successfully gives birth to a son, but then the unthinkable happens – she coughs up blood and collapses. Wangquan Hongye desperately transfers his vital energy to her, bringing her back to consciousness for a short while.
This is when the full truth spills out. That day she ambushed Jin Renfeng? He managed to land a nasty, underhanded blow. His goal, it seems, was to ensure the Dongfang family line ended with her. Huaizhu had been secretly taking all sorts of remedies, trying to buy more time with Hongye and their child, but she never imagined their final goodbye would come so soon.
Huaizhu has one last wish: to be beautifully dressed, her hair done, and to rush into Hongye's embrace one last time. She tells him that the "Bing Ren" was her plan, her hope. But, and this is a big one, if their son, Wangquan Fugui, ever wants to walk his own path, to leave it all behind, Hongye must let him go. With those heartbreaking words, Dongfang Huaizhu passes away in Wangquan Hongye's arms. (I'm not crying, you are!)
A New Generation and a Lingering Hope
Time skips forward. Wangquan Fugui is now a lively little boy, already deep into sword training with his dad, who hasn't missed a single day. In the aftermath of Huaizhu's sacrifice, the Yiqi Meng and its various families begin to consolidate their strength, focusing on cultivation, training new talents, and preparing for whatever the future holds. We see the emergence of the Zhang family's head disciple, and Deng Jiu Ru becomes the new head of the Deng family. Wangquan Hongye, channeling his grief and determination, takes it upon himself to rebuild the order between the human and demon realms.
And with that, the "Zhu Ye" (Bamboo and Hongye) arc concludes. Whew! What an emotional rollercoaster. It sets up so much for the future, especially for young Wangquan Fugui, who's born with such a heavy destiny. We'll have to see how he carries that weight and if his father will remember Huaizhu's final wish.
