Episode Summary
In this episode, Liao Tingyan's secret identity as a being from the Demon Domain is revealed to her and becomes a central point of conflict. The main antagonist, Shi Qianlv, attempts to frame Sima Jiao for murder but is outmaneuvered, leading a powerful sect leader to switch his allegiance to Sima Jiao. Multiple enemies, now aware that Liao Tingyan's "Inner Core" holds immense power, begin plotting to kill her. In response, Sima Jiao devises a counter-plan, using a fake reunion invitation to lure Liao Tingyan into a trap to expose all of his enemies at once.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with a surprisingly cute moment. Liao Tingyan uses her newly beefed-up powers to create a magical, hydrating face mask for herself. Seeing how much she's enjoying it, she makes one for Sima Jiao, too. After finally getting his big revenge, he's feeling more relaxed than he has in 500 years, and the cool mask is so comfortable he actually gets a little sleepy. It's a rare moment of peace for him as he watches her just being happy and content.
But of course, the peace doesn't last. Liao Tingyan gets a letter from her "good friend" Ye Ruling, inviting her to see some pretty, five-colored clouds. Liao Tingyan is thrilled and rushes off, not knowing it's a total setup. The "clouds" are actually a powerful barrier that Ye Ruling is desperate to escape. She was hoping to use Liao Tingyan's power to break it, but the plan completely backfires. When Liao Tingyan gets close, the barrier just zaps her, causing a ton of pain.
Later, another mysterious letter arrives. This one is a threat: meet at a secret spot, or her "true identity" will be exposed. Having no clue what that even means, but not wanting any more trouble, she decides to go.
It turns out the blackmailer is Yuan Shang. He confesses that he, under the influence of the manipulative Shi Qianlv, was the one who originally sent her to assassinate Sima Jiao. Then he drops the real bomb: Liao Tingyan is from the Demon Domain. She is completely floored but also feels incredibly lucky that her "grandmaster" Sima Jiao has been protecting her all this time without knowing.
Meanwhile, the master plotter, Shi Qianlv, is making some serious moves. He has his own son murder Yuan Shang (who was already badly injured by Sima Jiao) to frame Sima Jiao. The goal is to make Yuan Shang's powerful father, Yuan Che, declare war on Sima Jiao. But Sima Jiao is way ahead of him. He actually revives Yuan Shang just long enough to show Yuan Che a magical replay of who really killed his son. Just like that, Yuan Che and his entire sect flip sides and become Sima Jiao's secret allies.
At the same time, other people are figuring out Liao Tingyan's secret. Ye Ruling discovers that Liao Tingyan is the incarnation of a "Cold Fish" from the Demon Domain and that her Inner Core is the key to breaking the barrier. She manipulates a simple-minded clansman into trying to kill Liao Tingyan to get it. This information eventually gets back to Shi Qianlv, who thinks he's found the perfect weapon to use against Sima Jiao.
Shi Qianlv, who has no idea that Yuan Che is now Team Sima Jiao, tells him that Liao Tingyan is a demon. Yuan Che immediately passes this info to Sima Jiao. Realizing there must be a spy in his ranks, Sima Jiao decides to play along with his enemies. He announces a plan to "eliminate" Liao Tingyan to satisfy the other sects, which makes the loyal Black Snake incredibly sad.
The final piece of the trap is set when Liao Tingyan gets a sweet, innocent-looking letter from her old master, inviting her home for a reunion. She happily asks Sima Jiao to come along, but he refuses. So, she eagerly sets off by herself, walking straight into a trap that all her enemies have laid for her.
