Episode Summary
Mu Xiaowu is rescued by Wangquan Hongye but dies from severe injuries after a brief, heartbreaking farewell with Yang Yan, facilitated by Dongfang Huaizhu's pill. Devastated, Chu Jing sacrifices his own life and demon core to create a final snowfall for Mu Xiaowu. Yang Yan cuts ties with the Yang family. The corrupt Guard Captain Wei Changyong is exposed and killed by Wangquan Hongye. The mastermind, Nangong Chui, is imprisoned and deliberately placed among vengeful demons, sealing his fate. A misunderstanding arises between Dongfang Huaizhu and Wangquan Hongye over Mu Xiaowu's death, damaging their budding connection. The Investigation Bureau (Jicha Si) is reformed, and Dongfang Huaizhu secretly seeks help finding Yang Yan.
Spoiler Alert
Love in Pavilion: Episode 8 Recap & Spoilers - Things Get Heavy
Alright, so we start right where things left off. Dongfang Qinlan has one precious antidote pill. Who gets it? Yang Yitan. The moment he's conscious, he's rightfully furious and confronts his grandfather. He demands to know why Grandpa just stood by while Yang Ying drugged Mu Xiaowu and let the Jicha Si (think of them as the shady Investigation Bureau) haul him away.
Perfect timing, because just then, Dongfang Huaizhu and Wangquan Hongye arrive back at the Yang place. They quickly get the rundown of the awful situation and immediately race off towards the Jicha Si.
With the formidable Wangquan Hongye leading the charge alongside Yang Yitan, they bring Chu Jing into the Jicha Si. Feeling protected by Wangquan Hongye's presence, Chu Jing finally reveals the truth: he was forced to kill someone in public because the Guard Captain, Wei Changyong, controlled him using a Yu Yao Fu (Demon Control Talisman).
Seeing his scheme unravel, Wei Changyong desperately begs Nangong Chui (the guy who orchestrated this whole mess) to save him. But Nangong Chui? Total snake. He literally kicks Wei Changyong away, accusing him of slander and completely washing his hands of the situation. Classic villain move – throw your pawn under the bus when things go south.
Cornered and desperate, Wei Changyong makes a fatal mistake: he tries to attack Wangquan Hongye. Yeah, that Wangquan Hongye. With barely a flick of his wrist, Wangquan Hongye unleashes a wave of Jian Qi (sword energy), and Wei Changyong is instantly killed. Don't mess with the master swordsman, dude.
Wangquan Hongye successfully rescues Mu Xiaowu, but it's too late. The poor guy's injuries are catastrophic; his meridians (jinmai) are completely severed. There's no coming back from that. Even Dongfang Huaizhu, despite her skills from the Shenhuo Mountain Manor (Shenhuo Shan Zhuang), can't perform a miracle. However, she does have a Bu Tian Wan (Heaven-Mending Pill). It won't save him, but it can grant him a few precious moments of consciousness to say a final farewell to Yang Yan.
Mu Xiaowu wakes up briefly. His last words are heartbreakingly selfless. He urges Yang Yan and Chu Jing not to live with hatred. He tells Yang Yan to live a good life and tells Chu Jing to keep enjoying the warmth of the sun. Just then, Yang Huanzhou arrives, trying to take Yang Yan back to the Yang family. She flatly refuses. In a powerful, symbolic gesture (ge fa duan yi), Yang Yan cuts off a lock of her hair, declaring that she is severing all ties with the heartless, disloyal Yang family forever.
Watching the carriage carry Yang Yan away, Chu Jing is devastated. Mu Xiaowu wasn't just a friend; he was Chu Jing's light, his sun. With Mu Xiaowu gone, Chu Jing feels his own world has ended. In a final, poignant act of love and farewell, Chu Jing uses his own Yao Dan (Demon Core) to summon a snowfall just for Mu Xiaowu, sacrificing his own life in the process. Two kind souls, one human, one demon, lost because of political scheming. Gut-wrenching.
People may be dead, but the story isn't over. With witnesses and evidence now clear, Dongfang Huaizhu looks to Wangquan Hongye, expecting him to ensure justice is served for Mu Xiaowu and Chu Jing. Wangquan Hongye confirms he will act, stating his first target for accountability is Yang Huanzhou.
However, Dongfang Huaizhu overhears Wangquan Hongye talking about how this situation, tragic as it was, served a purpose in helping him remove the "poisonous fang" of the corrupt Jicha Si. She interprets this as him having used Mu Xiaowu's suffering, indirectly sacrificing him for a larger political goal. Any positive feelings or trust she was beginning to build towards Wangquan Hongye instantly shatter. The fragile connection they had is broken, and they part ways under a cloud of misunderstanding and disappointment.
Wangquan Hongye is left grappling with the heavy burden of his responsibilities as the Wangquan heir and the harsh reality of the world he's trying to fix – why do the righteous, even demons like Chu Jing, die unjustly while the ruthless clans survive?
Dongfang Huaizhu and Dongfang Qinlan return to Shenhuo Mountain Manor, but Huaizhu can't rest. She almost immediately heads out again, making her way to Ruyi Pavilion (Ruyi Lou). She hasn't heard from Yang Yan since she cut ties with her family and needs to find her. She asks Qingmu Yuan for help locating Yang Yan. This time, Qingmu Yuan agrees to help free of charge and promises not to breathe a word of it to Wangquan Hongye.
Meanwhile, changes are afoot. The Jicha Si is being restructured. Instead of being under one person's control, leadership will now rotate among the major families (everyone agrees except the head of the Zhang Zheng family, who abstains).
And what about Nangong Chui? He's been thrown into the notorious Huntian Prison (Huntian Dian Yu). But Wangquan Hongye has one last move. He arranges for Nangong Chui to be transferred to the section holding the very demons whose families Nangong Chui himself had slaughtered. These demons remember. They hate him. Now, Nangong Chui is powerless, stripped of his status and guards, locked in with those seeking vengeance. The episode closes with the vengeful demons surrounding Nangong Chui... his fate looks terrifyingly sealed.
