Episode Summary
Hong Ning causes some confusion by impersonating Jin Xiu, leading to an awkward encounter with Lu Yao. She later surprises Jin Xiu by suggesting "dual cultivation" after misinterpreting a lesson and finding a romantic scroll. Jin Xiu gets a power-up from the Emperor but suffers backlash. Hong Ning has a close call almost being discovered with Kunlun by Jin Xiu, who ends up hiding her in his robes. Later, a drunken evening leads to Jin Xiu trying to summon the Moon Lord for a homesick Hong Ning. Trying to find herbs to heal Jin Xiu's backlash injury, Hong Ning ignores warnings and enters the dangerous Bai Cao Lin, requiring Jin Xiu to rescue her. The episode ends with Hong Ning dropping her Flower Bell in her bath, which immediately alerts Jin Xiu to potential trouble.
Spoiler Alert
Love Never Fails: Episode 6 Recap & Spoilers
We kick things off with Lu Yao bumping into Jin Xiu. He's pleasantly surprised because Jin Xiu seems... different today. Way more cheerful! Plot twist: it's not Jin Xiu at all, but our little spirit Hong Ning wearing his face! She quickly tells Lu Yao to scram before the real Jin Xiu shows up. Lu Yao, still oblivious, just advises "Jin Xiu" to smile more because it looks good on him. Awkward! Once Lu Yao is gone, the actual Jin Xiu appears, obviously not happy, and tells Hong Ning point-blank: stop turning into me! Hong Ning promises she won't.
Watching this whole exchange from the sidelines is the Chrysanthemum Official (Chrysanthemum Official), who is utterly confused about what just happened but too intimidated to actually record it. Later, Chrysanthemum Official pulls Hong Ning aside for a lesson on propriety, emphasizing that men and women shouldn't be overly familiar. After the lesson, an acolyte pops back for a forgotten item, and Hong Ning sneakily keeps a scroll that happens to be about... you guessed it, romance between men and women. Trouble brewing?
Jin Xiu comes looking for Hong Ning later, wanting to check on her cultivation progress. Hong Ning, perhaps taking Chrysanthemum Official's words (but not intent) to heart, apologizes for the earlier shapeshifting incident, parroting the "men and women shouldn't be overly familiar" line. Jin Xiu brushes it off, focusing on her training. Hong Ning demonstrates some magic by making flowers bloom, but Jin Xiu points out she hasn't even mastered basic meditation. He tells her to practice with him. Hong Ning, thinking solo practice is too slow and maybe getting ideas from that scroll she snagged, decides to speed things up... by planting a kiss on Jin Xiu and suggesting they "dual cultivate"!
Jin Xiu is completely taken aback and demands to know who told her about that. Hong Ning almost spills about the scroll, but Jin Xiu, assuming it must have been Chrysanthemum Official, storms off to confront him. The poor Chrysanthemum Official vehemently denies teaching her anything of the sort!
Meanwhile, Jin Xiu has his own issues. The Emperor summons him to ask about his "Tonghai" cultivation. Jin Xiu admits he's stuck. The Emperor gives him a magical boost, warning him that the resulting backlash (physical or spiritual strain) is normal.
Later, Hong Ning sneaks off to the wine garden, hoping to collect some sweet Lily flower nectar. Kunlun spots her and, being the helpful guy he is, offers to climb higher to get the really good stuff for her. Just then, Jin Xiu arrives on the scene! Hong Ning panics and instantly reverts to her original form (likely something small and easily hidden). Kunlun smoothly pretends he was just checking out the wind conditions up high. Jin Xiu isn't fooled easily, though. He leaves, taking the hidden Hong Ning with him (tucked away in his robes, apparently!). Kunlun, looking around after Jin Xiu departs, is baffled to find Hong Ning has completely vanished.
Inside Jin Xiu's robes, Hong Ning wakes up confused, wondering why she's trapped in darkness and trying to get out. Her squirming makes Jin Xiu incredibly uncomfortable, especially when Shao Yao approaches him wanting to show off some new flowers. Jin Xiu makes a hasty excuse and leaves. Back in private, he finally releases Hong Ning, scolding her for wriggling around and demanding she learn the rules and stop being so reckless. Hong Ning has no choice but to agree.
That evening, Hong Ning is feeling down, drinking alone under the moon and missing her friends like Lemon Spirit. Jin Xiu finds her and reminds her that drinking isn't allowed here. Hong Ning vents her frustration – her friends would drink with her, but he won't. Surprisingly, Jin Xiu grabs the wine and takes a swig himself. He ends up drinking quite a bit. Hong Ning, also tipsy, starts complaining that the moon is picking on her. Jin Xiu, in his drunken state, decides to solve this by literally summoning the Tai Yin Xing Jun (Moon Lord)! Hong Ning quickly backpedals, explaining it was just a figure of speech and she's simply homesick. A slightly softer, drunk Jin Xiu then helps her release a paper crane carrying her message into the night sky.
The next morning brings repercussions. Someone questions Kunlun about whether he was the one who tried to "pluck the moon," revealing that Tai Yin Xing Jun's memory of the incident has been wiped clean. Kunlun denies it, though he admits it does sound like something he might do.
Later, Kunlun finds Hong Ning trying unsuccessfully to save a white camellia flower. He steps in and helps her with his magic. Hong Ning then asks him if he knows where to find certain herbs, like Jie Geng (Platycodon). Kunlun tells her they're in the Bai Cao Lin (Hundred Herb Forest), but warns her it's filled with dangerous miasma and far too perilous for a small spirit like her.
Does Hong Ning listen? Of course not. Driven by the desire to find medicine for the injury Jin Xiu sustained (likely from the Emperor's cultivation help), she ventures into Bai Cao Lin alone. Predictably, she runs into trouble. Luckily, Jin Xiu senses danger and arrives just in time to rescue her. He's furious, asking if she has any idea how dangerous that was, even though she tearfully explains she was trying to help him.
The episode ends with Hong Ning taking a bath to recover. She drops her Hua Ling (Flower Bell) into the water. The moment it hits the water, Jin Xiu, wherever he is, senses something is wrong and immediately rushes towards her location!
Cliffhanger Alert! What's the significance of the Flower Bell? Why did it alert Jin Xiu? Guess we'll have to wait for the next episode dump to find out!
