Episode Summary
Sima Jiao's failed attempt to break his 500-year seal makes Liao Tingyan realize he is a prisoner, and she begins to pity him.After he saves her from an assassination attempt plotted by the other sects, she helps his black snake companion regain its human form by persuading Ye Ruling to return its inner core.
Spoiler Alert
Sima Jiao is getting desperate to break the seal that's holding him. He tries over and over, nearly losing control of his powers at one point. During his most intense attempt, the entire temple starts to shake and glow with light. Liao Tingyan, who has no idea what's really going on, just thinks it's a pretty light show and even calls for the little black snake to come out and enjoy the view with her.
The violent shaking finally makes her realize something is seriously wrong. It dawns on her that Sima Jiao isn't in some peaceful meditation retreat; he's been a prisoner, sealed away by the major sects for 500 long years.Realizing he's been completely alone this whole time, she starts to feel sorry for him.
Later that night, once things have calmed down, she decides to check on him. In a clumsy moment, she falls right into his bathtub. It's incredibly awkward, but luckily, he doesn't get mad. To make up for it, she offers to cheer him up and uses a bit of magic to create a flurry of white snowflakes. Sima Jiao is not impressed at all and basically asks her if she learned magic just to create pretty, useless things.
Meanwhile, spies planted by the other sects are listening in. They overhear Sima Jiao telling the black snake that he'll be at his weakest during the full moon. This is exactly the information they were waiting for. They report back, and the sects immediately start plotting an attack to keep him sealed away for good.
Their first move is to take out Liao Tingyan, seeing her as Sima Jiao's key supporter. Two female disciples from the Gengchen Immortal Mansion, who already dislike her, trick her into going to the border. They tie her up and are about to kill her.
But just in the nick of time, Sima Jiao shows up. He easily defeats the attackers and uses his power to force the truth out of them, exposing the Gengchen Immortal Mansion's entire scheme. Hearing that they're trying to kill him yet again, he shows no mercy and eliminates the three traitors on the spot. With Liao Tingyan safe, he sends her to the Three Saints Mountain.
The black snake had already sent for help, and Ye Ruling arrives to find Liao Tingyan passed out. When she wakes up, Liao Tingyan convinces Ye Ruling to return the black snake's inner core , arguing that the snake hasn't done anything wrong. Ye Ruling hesitates but agrees. The moment the snake swallows its core, it transforms into a handsome, friendly-looking man.
