Episode Summary
Kunlun returns and clashes with Jinxiu over suspicions about Tian Nv's involvement in recent strange events. In the heavens, Mu Xian, now reliant on the Nei Dan, races against time for revenge, while the Empress worries about the lack of news from the Tian Di stars undergoing trials. Jinxiu investigates disturbances in the countryside, encountering Mu Xian in a mountain cabin. After one of Jinxiu's men, Wang Hu, harasses Mu Xian and is later found dead, suspicion falls on her, though Jinxiu defends her. Jinxiu suspects a demon hunter is aiding the Lotus demon. The episode culminates with an imposter Mu Xian (revealed to be the Peach Demon, Bi Qin) trying to seduce Jinxiu, leading to a confrontation where the real Mu Xian is injured.
Spoiler Alert
So, first off, guess who’s back? Kunlun! And the reunion with his brother Jinxiu is, uh, a little frosty. Jinxiu’s got this nagging feeling that Tian Nv might be pulling some strings behind all the recent chaos – you know, too many "coincidences" piling up. Kunlun, though, is basically like, "How dare you even think about going after Tian Nv?" He makes it pretty clear that even though they're brothers, he's ready to throw down if Jinxiu messes with Tian Nv. Brotherly love? More like brotherly tension!
Meanwhile, up in the heavenly realm, things are equally dramatic. Mu Xian has absorbed the Nei Dan (that vital inner core, for those keeping track) and is basically running on borrowed time. She needs that Nei Dan to survive now, and she's desperate to get her revenge before her clock runs out. Then you have the Empress popping over to see the Heaven's Book Zun Zhe, all worried because it's been a whopping twenty years since the two Tian Di stars went down to the mortal realm for their trials, and there’s been zero news. The Tian Di himself shows up, asking what she’s doing there. The Empress snaps back, saying if he can be concerned about Jinxiu, why can't she worry about Kunlun? Touché! But the Heaven's Book Zun Zhe lays down the law: interfere with the Tian Di stars' trials, and you're asking for some serious heavenly wrath. Yikes.
Back in the mortal realm, Jinxiu and his crew, including Lu Jiu, head out to the countryside. Lu Jiu’s a bit confused, like, "Aren't we supposed to be dealing with city problems?" But Jinxiu explains that a lot of people have been getting into trouble out there, so they have to investigate. Their search leads them to a rustic cabin in the mountains where they find none other than Mu Xian. When Jinxiu asks if she owns the place, Mu Xian just says she's also just crashing there.
Mu Xian immediately warns them that the place is dangerous and they should scram. Jinxiu, ever the investigator, counters, "If it's so dangerous, why are you still here?" Mu Xian basically tells them if they insist on staying, they better watch their backs. Later that night, one of Jinxiu’s men, Wang Hu, decides to pay Mu Xian a visit in her room. He starts going on about how his wife is virtuous and how he could give Mu Xian a good life if she shacks up with him (classy, dude). Suddenly, Wang Hu bolts out screaming his head off, claiming he saw a ghost and that Mu Xian is the ghost.
Jinxiu comes over to ask Mu Xian why she’s messing with his men. Mu Xian, not missing a beat, fires back that maybe Jinxiu should get his own people in line before pointing fingers at her. Jinxiu apologizes for his subordinate's behavior but says if there's something else lurking around, they need to catch it. Mu Xian insists it's just her, that she's a demon hunter, and hey, she did warn them to leave.
The next morning, things take a dark turn: Wang Hu is found dead, with a nasty wound on his neck. Naturally, everyone’s side-eying Mu Xian. Lu Jiu points out that Wang Hu had just clashed with her the night before, and now he’s dead, clothes all messed up – it looks like someone lured him in. "Who else could it be but Mu Xian?" he argues. But Jinxiu, bless his heart, isn't jumping to conclusions. He says there's no proof linking Mu Xian to the murder and declares he believes she didn't do it.
Mu Xian tells them again that it's dangerous and they should leave. Jinxiu then connects the dots to what's been happening in the city. He mentions how Zheng Ke, riddled with guilt, had plastered his room with protective talismans, but on the night the Lotus demon attacked, all those talismans mysteriously failed. Jinxiu theorizes that a demon hunter – someone like Mu Xian – might be helping the Lotus demon. Mu Xian is clearly annoyed, basically saying, "If you suspect me, why are you even asking me anything?".
And then, for the grand finale of the episode: later that night, "Mu Xian" saunters into Jinxiu's room. She gets cozy, sits right in his lap, and starts trying to seduce him, purring about how he must be into her looks. Just as things are about to get... well, wherever they were going, the real Mu Xian bursts in! She's furious, exclaiming she can't stand watching someone use her face to pull stunts like this. A fight breaks out, and the imposter is revealed to be Bi Qin, the Peach Demon! Bi Qin makes a quick escape.
The real Mu Xian and Jinxiu give chase and battle Bi Qin. Unfortunately, Mu Xian gets injured on her shoulder during the fight. Jinxiu brings her back to tend to her wound. Mu Xian initially refuses his help, but since she can't quite reach the injury herself, she eventually has to let Jinxiu apply the medicine. A little bit of forced proximity and care, perhaps? We'll have to see where that leads!
