Episode Summary
Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan's wedding plans are interrupted by Feng Qi, who claims he can cure the unstable Inner Core inside her. His treatment is a lie, part of the Demon Lord's plot, and tensions between the Immortal and Demon realms explode after the murder of a demon named Niu San. Sima Jiao uncovers the truth: Feng Qi is a puppet who killed Niu San and is trying to corrupt Liao Tingyan. After saving her, a weakened Sima Jiao reveals a secret plan to sacrifice his own Inner Core to save her life, hiding the fatal consequences from her.
Spoiler Alert
Wedding Plans and a Ghost from the Past
So, Liao Tingyan finally brought up getting married. Sima Jiao was all for it and wanted to set the date as soon as possible. The two of them started going into Yan City to shop for wedding stuff. On one of their trips, they bumped into Feng Qi. You might remember him. He's the one who tricked Liao Tingyan into taking off her protective anklet. Sima Jiao has not forgotten this. He immediately grabbed Feng Qi by the throat and demanded to know what he was up to.
Feng Qi claims he's here to help. He says Liao Tingyan's body now contains You Chi's Inner Core. Because their bloodlines clash, this will eventually kill her. Feng Qi insists his clan knows how to stabilize a Demon Lord's Inner Core and he wants to try. Sima Jiao, wanting to save Liao Tingyan, reluctantly agrees to let Feng Qi treat her for now.
A Fragile Peace Shatters
Tensions and a Suspicious Death
The Immortal and Demon Realms now have an open-door policy, but that doesn't mean everyone is getting along. The Gengchen Immortal Mansion crew still looks down on demons. During one gathering, an Immortal named Chi Anhe publicly mocked the demons, saying even their fine wine comes from the Immortal Realm. A demon named Niu San got into a heated argument with him before it was broken up.
Later, even after admitting he was wrong, Niu San turned up dead. His death was strange. This immediately destroyed any goodwill between the two realms. The fighting started again, with new battles breaking out every day.
A Dangerous "Cure"
Liao Tingyan heard the demons complaining about the Immortals and felt the deep resentment between them. As Feng Qi continued his daily treatments, she made a disturbing discovery. The Inner Core inside her was not shrinking; it was growing. She knew this massive core wasn't hers. Her master took a look and confirmed her fears. The Demon Lord's Inner Core was trying to swallow her own. If this continued, she would lose her mind and do things she couldn't control.
Sima Jiao's Desperate Plan
Uncovering the Truth
Sima Jiao knew Niu San's death was a setup. The whole thing felt clumsy and obvious. He figured the Demon Lord's right-hand man, Ming Li, would have answers, so he went to find him. Sima Jiao tracked Ming Li to the entrance of a forest in the Demon Domain. Using a truth spell, he forced Ming Li to talk. Ming Li confessed that Feng Qi killed Niu San. He also revealed that Feng Qi is now a puppet of the Demon Lord, forced to obey his commands.
Realizing Liao Tingyan was in immediate danger, Sima Jiao rushed back to her side. He found Feng Qi in the middle of using a forbidden demon technique on her. She felt like she was burning from the inside out. Sima Jiao stepped in just in time, stabilizing her mind and bringing her back to her senses.
A Secret Sacrifice
Sima Jiao then used the same truth spell on Feng Qi, forcing him to confess Niu San's murder in public. The Demon Realm, knowing the Immortals were innocent, dropped their grudge against Chi Anhe. All this power usage has taken a toll on Sima Jiao, though. His old injuries haven't healed, and he's weaker now. He tells Liao Tingyan he needs to go into seclusion for a month to make things right. She doesn't understand why he can't just wait until after the wedding.
Nian Jiu accidentally overheard Sima Jiao talking with Spirit Fire. He learned the devastating truth. Sima Jiao plans to use his own Inner Core to suppress the one inside Liao Tingyan. This act will save her life, but it will destroy him. Nian Jiu was heartbroken but Sima Jiao made him swear not to tell Liao Tingyan.
Liao Tingyan went to see Sima Jiao and found him resting. She joked about his new style of seclusion. They connected spiritually, and she entered his "Shenfu," or spiritual domain. She found a beautiful place filled with flowers and a gentle breeze. This was all an illusion. In reality, Sima Jiao is gravely weakened and preparing to sacrifice himself, putting on a brave face just to comfort her.
