Episode Summary
Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan go undercover at an immortal academy to locate Shi Qianlv's secret power source. As they navigate school life in disguise, their enemies, including Ye Ruling and the Shi family, form an alliance to hunt them down. Sima Jiao leaves Liao Tingyan at the academy to pursue another lead, forcing her to fend for herself and confront her growing feelings of reliance on him.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 14 of When Destiny Brings the Demon begins with Ye Ruling, who has been playing innocent all this time, deciding it's the perfect moment to strike. Hearing that Sima Jiao is seriously injured, she plans to take him down once and for all. Since she's not sure she can handle him alone, she decides to team up with other clans who also have a grudge against him.
Meanwhile, Sima Jiao is awake and sharing a bed with Liao Tingyan. They're lying face-to-face, which makes things super awkward for her, but he seems to be enjoying this quiet moment. He even asks her if she doesn't like being this close. Blushing, Liao Tingyan quickly scrambles away. Seeing his expression, she starts to wonder if the Spirit Fire was right—maybe Sima Jiao actually likes her?
Now that he's awake, she asks him about his plans. The Immortal Envoy had previously told her that Shi Qianlv's main base wasn't completely destroyed. Sima Jiao had already guessed that Shi Qianlv must have another source of the Fengshan bloodline hidden somewhere else. For years, Shi Qianlv has been using the Sima clan's blood to cultivate his powers for longevity. Sima Jiao is determined to crush this fantasy for good and protect his people from being hunted and harmed ever again.
It turns out, the hunt is on from both sides. Shi Qianlv's son and sister are gathering their people to find Sima Jiao. And they're not alone—Ye Ruling approaches Shi Qianlv, and he agrees to join forces with her to get rid of their common enemy.
To find Shi Qianlv's hidden bloodline source, Sima Jiao takes Liao Tingyan to the Luohe Immortal Workshop. To avoid being followed, they magically disguise themselves as Yong Lingchun and Yong Shiqiu from the Mu Mansion, two people known to be on good terms with the Shi family. It's the perfect cover to investigate quietly.
Their disguise leads them to the Gengchen Immortal Mansion, where they are basically forced to enroll as students and attend daily classes. Liao Tingyan finds the whole "going back to school after time-traveling" thing ridiculous, especially since their teacher is just a little kid. Still, the teacher is skilled in some neat little tricks. Though bored, Liao Tingyan decides to learn some magic so she won't be a burden to Sima Jiao and can defend herself if needed.
Sima Jiao has another mission: to find the hiding place of another Spirit Fire. Before he leaves, he tells Liao Tingyan not to worry about learning any magic. He just wants her to eat well, relax, and hang out for a few days. Once he finds the Spirit Fire, he'll come back for her. Liao Tingyan is finally free to do what she wants, but without the "grandmaster" around, she feels a little anxious. It seems she feels safer when her boss is nearby.
Sima Jiao rushes to a spirit mountain and pool, hoping to quickly find the Fengshan bloodline and protect more people. The spiritual energy there is strong, but the calm atmosphere offers no clues. He meets with an informant, ordering him to report back the second he finds anything suspicious.
We also check in on Nian Jiu, who has become Ye Ruling's apprentice and follows her everywhere. While Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan are missing, Ye Ruling has kept him safe in the Yin Palace, telling him not to go out. He's been obedient, but after not seeing his master for a few days, he misses her and sneaks out to find her. Ye Ruling is touched by his affection, but with her revenge not yet complete, she tries to suppress any romantic feelings for him.
Back at the mansion, Liao Tingyan is invited to a banquet. She's nervous because, despite the delicious food, she knows she's an imposter and could easily be exposed. But to cover for Sima Jiao's absence, she has no choice but to go. At the party, she overhears a group of young ladies swooning over the "grandmaster" (Sima Jiao). Liao Tingyan can't help but feel a little smug, thinking how lucky she is to not only be his deskmate but also talk to him all the time.
