Episode Summary
Gou Lingfeng tries to win Ma Yingdan's affection, facing obstacles from Ma Linglan and Deng Yunfeng. Various schemes and comedic mishaps ensue, while a potential marriage proposal and a dangerous fire threaten the valley.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 25 Recap & Spoilers:
Gou Lingfeng is still head-over-heels for Ma Yingdan, but Mama Ma, Ma Linglan, is playing hardball. She's blocking Gou Lingfeng at every turn, even claiming her daughter's already, uh, passed on. Gou Lingfeng isn't buying it, though. He's convinced Ma Yingdan is alive and well, just not interested. To get on Ma Linglan’s good side, he even starts watering the garden, looking all awkward but earnest. Ma Linglan watches him, and you can almost see a flicker of approval in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Ma Yingdan is playing the recluse, getting all her Gou Lingfeng updates from her servant, Xiao Rang. Xiao Rang spills the tea: Gou Lingfeng is super devoted, willing to marry her in a ghost marriage (yikes!), and even wants to bring his dad to Poison Immortal Valley for the wedding. Ma Yingdan pretends to be annoyed, but a little smile creeps onto her face. Plus, Gou Lingfeng ponied up some serious cash (2000 silver taels!), so the Poison Immortal Valley crew is finally eating something besides gruel.
Gou Lingfeng, fresh from his fertilizer duties, tries again to see Ma Yingdan, but Ma Linglan shuts him down. Then, Xiao Rang gets busted for sneaking Zhuge Heng and the gang into the valley. Ma Linglan locks them up and tells Ma Yingdan to just be honest with Gou Lingfeng if she's not interested. Then, in a bizarre twist, she brings Ma Yingdan to play mahjong with Zhuge Heng and the others.
Gou Lingfeng, picturing his buddies in dire straits, finds them chilling and playing mahjong. He storms off in a huff, but no one chases after him. The crew follows him, and Ma Yingdan whips up a veggie dish using the garden's produce to detox everyone. Deng Yunfeng, bless his heart, doesn't realize Gou Lingfeng just fertilized those veggies and chows down, only to end up ralphing his guts out.
With the Wulin (Martial Arts World) Alliance still lurking outside, Deng Yunfeng is worried about Ma Yingdan's safety. She's determined to stay in Poison Immortal Valley, and Gou Lingfeng decides to stick around too, even if it means marrying into the family. But Ma Yingdan is giving Gou Lingfeng the cold shoulder. Zhuge Heng, ever the schemer, suggests Gou Lingfeng woo her with a leaf flute serenade, like in those romance stories she loves.
So, the next day, Gou Lingfeng picks a fresh leaf and starts playing. The sweet melody drifts through the air, and Ma Yingdan actually smiles!
Gou Lingfeng is serenading Ma Yingdan with a bamboo leaf flute. Just as Ma Yingdan cracks a smile, a pebble comes out of nowhere and knocks the leaf out of his hand. But the music keeps playing! Ma Yingdan realizes Zhuge Heng was hiding and playing the flute the whole time, and she's been played! She storms back inside.
Dejected, Gou Lingfeng gets another brilliant idea from Zhuge Heng: scare her with bugs and then play the hero. But Ma Yingdan isn't scared of bugs; Gou Lingfeng is! Cue the slapstick. Later, Xiao Rang and the others are calling Gou Lingfeng "son-in-law," which irks Deng Yunfeng. He wants to contribute to the Valley's food fund too.
Because of the Wulin Alliance outside, they can't just go out for a bite. Gou Lingfeng and Deng Yunfeng start bickering again, and Ma Yingdan just walks away. Later, Deng Yunfeng approaches Gou Lingfeng with a plan: they should team up to protect Ma Yingdan. He reasons that whoever holds the Great Hero Order will control the Martial Arts Alliance and the Prison Guard Division, ensuring Ma Yingdan's safety. Gou Lingfeng is intrigued, but Ma Linglan warns him he can't have it all. If he likes Ma Yingdan, he needs to make a move.
Seeing Gou Lingfeng's hesitation, Ma Linglan engineers a moment alone for Ma Yingdan and Deng Yunfeng. Gou Lingfeng chases after Ma Yingdan to the back mountain, where she's honoring their ancestors. He joins her in kneeling, much to her annoyance. Meanwhile, He Changsheng tries to find a path through the valley but fails and decides to set the mountain on fire to clear the poisonous fog.
Ma Linglan then shocks everyone by announcing she wants Ma Yingdan to marry Deng Yunfeng! Deng Yunfeng is thrilled but still asks for Ma Yingdan's opinion. Gou Lingfeng overhears this and is devastated. As they argue, Ma Linglan suddenly collapses!
What a cliffhanger! Will Ma Yingdan choose Gou Lingfeng or Deng Yunfeng? And what's up with Ma Linglan's sudden illness? Stay tuned for the next episode!
"Hidden Master" Episode 25 Summary: Gou Lingfeng tries to win Ma Yingdan's affection, facing obstacles from Ma Linglan and Deng Yunfeng. Various schemes and comedic mishaps ensue, while a potential marriage proposal and a dangerous fire threaten the valley.
