Episode Summary
The idyllic Guyu Wu is revealed to be an illusion created by Shi Qianlv to trap Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan in the frozen heart of the Demon Domain. Tricked by a naive Feng Qi, Liao Tingyan removes her protective anklet, allowing Shi Qianlv to capture her. After Sima Jiao is also captured, he manages to break her seal, only for a brainwashed Liao Tingyan to stab him in the chest.
Spoiler Alert
This Whole Paradise is a Lie
Things start off pretty chill. Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan are kicking back in a hot spring. Elsewhere, Nian Jiu is still trying to win over Ye Ruling. She has no memory of him because of her past trauma, but he doesn't care. He keeps bringing her gifts. She tells him you can't force a connection. He basically says, "watch me."
But the vibe shifts when Sima Jiao gets Liao Tingyan back to her room. He realizes she's ice-cold, and her pulse is all wrong. He uses his own power to warm her up. The next morning, he immediately asks Nian Jiu if anything weird has been going on around Liao Tingyan.
Nian Jiu remembers something. He saw Liao Tingyan's supposed master fussing over the flowers in her room. At the time, Ye Ruling thought it was pointless. Now, Nian Jiu realizes it's a huge red flag. He knows Liao Tingyan couldn't care less about flower arrangements. Sima Jiao tells him to look into it, but to keep it quiet.
The Illusion Shatters
Nian Jiu doesn't have to look hard. He quickly discovers the "flowers" aren't real. They're just a disguise for a toxic miasma.
At the same time, Feng Qi corners Liao Tingyan near a waterfall. He asks if she really doesn't remember saving him when she was a spirit fish. She has no memory of it. More importantly, she tells him that the person who saved him isn't her anymore. She tells him to let it go. He gets upset and asks why she wants to remember Sima Jiao but not him.
Liao Tingyan goes straight to Sima Jiao and tells him what Feng Qi said. That's the last piece of the puzzle for Sima Jiao. He realizes they aren't in the beautiful Guyu Wu at all. They're in a massive illusion created by Shi Qianlv.In reality, they're standing in Baiguyuan, the heart of the Demon Domain. All the lush scenery is just miasma covering a frozen wasteland.
The Trap Closes In
Sima Jiao figures out the danger. The protective anklet he gave Liao Tingyan is drawing the intense cold out of her body and channeling it directly into him.
Feng Qi, being a complete fool, helps spring the trap.He goes to Liao Tingyan and tells her a lie. He says if she takes off the anklet, Sima Jiao will be safe from the cold's backlash. Hearing that, Liao Tingyan rips it off without hesitation.
The second the anklet is off, her protection is gone. Shi Qianlv appears instantly and knocks her unconscious. Feng Qi is completely clueless about the real plan. He thought Shi Qianlv was just going to restore her memories. He has no idea Shi Qianlv's actual goal is to refine her body into a powerful spirit stone.
A Betrayal and a Blade
Sima Jiao senses she's in trouble and rushes to find her. He's immediately ambushed. He gets tied to a massive pillar by Shi Qianlv and the Demon Domain's Grand Preceptor, who torture him with fire.
Even while captured, Sima Jiao fights back. He has to fend off both of them while trying to break the seal on Liao Tingyan. He finally succeeds, but it's a disaster. Shi Qianlv has completely brainwashed her.
She doesn't remember Sima Jiao at all. She looks at him and sees an enemy. Then, she takes a sword and stabs him straight through the chest.
