Episode Summary
Informed that her master is gravely ill, Mu Dai, accompanied by Cao Yanhua, urgently departs for Yunling. Meanwhile, Luo Ren learns that his old nemesis, Cheetah, has resurfaced seeking revenge. Prioritizing Mu Dai's safety, Luo Ren abandons his own mission to escort her. During their journey, he reveals his traumatic past in the lawless city of Heisha, recounting the tragic deaths of Nina, Tasha, and his comrades at the hands of Cheetah. The trio finally reunites in Yunling, preparing to face the unknown at her master's home as Cheetah's threat looms.
Spoiler Alert
"The Seven Relics of Ill Omen" Episode 25 Recap: A Painful Past and a Perilous Journey
An urgent summons sends Mu Dai racing toward her past, while Luo Ren is forced to confront his own. Episode 25 dives deep into the brutal history that forged Luo Ren and sets the stage for a tense confrontation as his most dangerous enemy re-emerges.
A Sudden Departure and an Ominous Return
The episode opens with Mu Dai receiving distressing news: her master, the enigmatic Plum Blossom Ninth Mistress, is critically ill. Without hesitation, she and Cao Yanhua prepare to leave for Yunling immediately. Their departure is a frantic rush, complicated by Cao Yanhua's pet rooster, which isn't allowed on the train. He reluctantly entrusts the bird, now comically named "Cao Fangfang," to Yi Wan San's care.
At the station, Luo Ren sees them off. He was meant to travel to Heisha to deal with an escalating crisis there, but the sight of a tearful Mu Dai makes him pause. He gently wipes her tears, promising to be careful, and their farewell is heavy with unspoken emotion. But just as her train pulls away, Luo Ren receives a chilling phone call from his associate, Qing Mu. His old nemesis, a ruthless figure known only as Cheetah, has entered the country.
A Detour into Darkness
Qing Mu's warning is dire: Cheetah is seeking revenge for the loss of his eye and will undoubtedly use Mu Dai as a pawn to get to Luo Ren. Realizing the immense danger, Luo Ren abandons his own plans. He contacts Mu Dai, instructing her to get off at the next stop, and speeds off to intercept and escort her personally.
The forced road trip provides a moment of clarity for the anxious Cao Yanhua. Mu Dai explains the origins of her apprenticeship, revealing she was chosen by Plum Blossom Ninth Mistress not for her background, but because of a chance encounter in Lixi where the master witnessed her devotion while praying for a friend. The story eases Cao Yanhua's worries about his own prospects for discipleship.
The Bloody Truth Behind a Rose
The journey is interrupted by a stop where a child is selling roses. Luo Ren pays for a flower but tells the child to keep it, a seemingly small act that hides a dark memory. He recounts a story from his time in Heisha's "Tipsy Bar." He had once given a rose to a woman as a thank you, only to later discover that a dancer at the bar, Nina, had been brutally murdered. The killer was Cheetah, the heir to Heisha's criminal underworld, a man who lives by the creed, "If I want it, I take it." Nina left behind a young daughter, a fact that has haunted Luo Ren ever since.
Scars from the Underground
As they drive on, Luo Ren finally opens up about the full, brutal extent of his past in Heisha. He started as an underground fighter to survive but was drugged and nearly killed after refusing to finish an opponent. He was saved by Qing Mu, who recruited him into a security team, leading to a rare period of peace and camaraderie.
That peace was shattered when Cheetah orchestrated a city-wide riot to seize control of their hotel. In the chaos, Luo Ren tried to save an orphan girl named Tasha but was deceived by Cheetah, who used a body double to trick him. The mistake cost Tasha her life. Blinded by rage and grief, Luo Ren led his team on a revenge mission, only to be led directly into a deadly ambush where his friends were wiped out. As he finishes the story, Luo Ren is visibly shaking, and Mu Dai, her own eyes filled with tears, pulls him into a comforting embrace.
A New Alliance in Yunling
The trio finally reunites in Yunling. Cao Yanhua, ever the enthusiast, proudly reports his own "heroic" deeds from the road: catching two petty thieves. With the weight of Luo Ren's past now shared, the three prepare themselves for the final leg of their journey into the mountains to face whatever awaits them at the home of the Plum Blossom Ninth Mistress.
The episode leaves us on a knife's edge: The true condition of Mu Dai's master is still a mystery.Cheetah and his forces are closing in, and Cao Yanhua is about to face his own trials to prove his worth.
