Episode Summary
Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen search for a cure and find a mysterious doctor who grants wishes with terrible consequences. The doctor is revealed to be a scarecrow, and the true mastermind is a bitter demon spirit of the Zhu Yu Immortal Grass. We learn this demon was once the disciple of Mei Zhuyu's late master, the previous Cat Duke. After Wu Zhen unconsciously uses the Cat Duke's power, the demon has a change of heart and sacrifices itself to help her. In a subplot, Mei Si's attempts to impress Liu Taizhen lead to a quiet, intimate moment between them.
Spoiler Alert
The Sketchy Miracle Doctor
Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen are still on their quest for the Zhu Yu Immortal Grass.They start the episode by running into a broom demon who almost sets itself on fire. It's a quick, weird encounter. The demon has no clue where the grass is, so they move on.
Their journey takes them deeper into a forest. They find an old woman who has fallen. They help her up, and she points them toward a "miracle doctor" named Gu. She says his garden is full of magical herbs. Mei Zhuyu feels weird about leaving her alone, but when he turns back, she's vanished. In her place, a mysterious courtyard appears.
A young boy leads them into a waiting room. There are four other people already there. You have a rich guy who wants a son, an old man desperate to live longer, and a woman who wants to be prettier. Then there's a quiet young man in blue just watching everyone. He seems completely out of place.
The Price of a Wish
This is where things get creepy. The patients go in one by one to see the doctor. The rich merchant comes out with a potion, thrilled. The old man follows, looking hunched and sick but weirdly happy. The woman leaves with a veil over her face, unable to see, but she's convinced she's now a peerless beauty.
Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen know something is wrong.
The Scarecrow in the Chair
It's their turn. Wu Zhen goes into the inner room alone. The "doctor" sits behind a screen. The voice sounds exactly like the old woman from the forest.Wu Zhen isn't having it. She rips the curtain away and finds a straw scarecrow sitting in the chair. The exit is suddenly blocked by a brick wall. She's trapped.
The Real Mastermind
Outside, Mei Zhuyu puts it all together. He talks to the quiet young man in blue. This guy is the real person in charge. Mei Zhuyu realizes the other patients got their wishes, but at a horrible cost. The rich man got his son but will lose his entire fortune. The old man got more years but will be sick for all of them. The woman got her new face but is now blind. It's a classic "be careful what you wish for" setup, and it's brutal.
A Doctor's Ghost Story
To save Wu Zhen, Mei Zhuyu has to play along. He agrees to find the Zhu Yu Immortal Grass in the courtyard. He breaks through an illusion and makes a huge discovery. The young man is the Zhu Yu Immortal Grass, a demon spirit.
While this is happening, the trapped Wu Zhen finds an old medical book. It reveals the demon spirit used to be a kind and respected doctor. The demon then tells Mei Zhuyu its backstory. It was saved by a master it deeply cared for. It cultivated its powers for years to become human, but the master never came back. Feeling abandoned and bitter, it tried to become famous by offering free medical care. But its patients turned on it, falsely accusing the doctor of poisoning them. This betrayal twisted the spirit into what it is today, a being that punishes human greed.
An Unexpected Connection
The demon is still full of rage and prepares to attack Mei Zhuyu. But then Wu Zhen, from inside the room, suddenly unleashes a massive burst of power. It's the power of the Cat Duke (Mao Gong).The effort makes her pass out.
The demon is stunned. It doesn't understand how she has this ability. Mei Zhuyu explains that his own master was the previous Cat Duke. He died many years ago. This changes everything. The demon realizes its master didn't abandon it after all.
The spirit's anger fades. It tells Mei Zhuyu that Wu Zhen isn't sick with a normal illness. She's facing a "demon calamity." Giving up its grudge, the spirit offers its true form—the grass—to Mei Zhuyu. It hopes he can use it to save Wu Zhen someday.
A Little Romance by the Lake
The episode also checks in with Mei Si and Liu Taizhen.Mei Si meets her at the Demon Market. He tries to impress her by creating some fireflies with magic. Liu Taizhen sees right through it. She knows their snake friend Xuanhui is actually doing the work. Still, she's touched by the effort.
She gets a little annoyed at Xuanhui for being lazy and tells him to practice his skills. He gets defensive. So, Liu Taizhen shows him how it's done. She creates a breathtaking swarm of thousands of fireflies that light up the sky.
Later, on the way home, a sleepy Mei Si leans his head on her shoulder. Liu Taizhen freezes for a moment. But she doesn't push him away. She just lets him rest there, clearly feeling something she can't quite explain.
