Episode Summary
Elder Hui is defeated, but Mei Zhuyu reveals he has been carrying Wu Zhen's curse for eighteen years. To stop the Evil Spirit Infant for good, he absorbs all its power, forcing Wu Zhen to kill him. He dies in her arms. Three months later, life has moved on for their friends. Then, Mei Zhuyu wakes from his coma with strange golden eyes. Ten months after his death, he and a pregnant Wu Zhen have swapped bodies, starting a new, strange chapter of their lives.
Spoiler Alert
The Final Showdown
Elder Hui's Last Stand
The episode kicks off with Elder Hui trying to resurrect the Evil Spirit Infant.He’s got a whole forbidden array going. Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu lead the Changxi Palace crew and the Demon Market folks to stop him. It’s a full-on battle. But the evil energy is still pouring into Chang'an.
Then comes the twist. Elder Hui realizes the vital core isn't even in Wu Zhen's body.Before he can process this, Wu Zhen uses a secret technique, snatches his demon core, and he's toast. Just like that. Gone.
The Lantern's Curse
Just as you think it's over, a remnant of the Evil Spirit Infant shoots out and goes straight for Wu Zhen. Mei Zhuyu jumps in front of her to protect her. That's when we see it. He's covered in grotesque demon sores.
Wu Zhen is floored. He reveals that he's been taking on her suffering for the last eighteen years. It all started when they first met. He gave her a lantern that held the power of the Cat Duke.The Evil Spirit Infant was drawn to that power and latched onto her by mistake.The whole curse was meant for him. It was his karma all along.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
The Hardest Choice
Mei Zhuyu hands the Changxi Jian, a sacred weapon, to Wu Zhen.He tells her she is the only one who can end this. She has to be the one to make the final call. Just then, the evil energy completely floods Chang'an and the Demon Market. Seeing how bad it is, Mei Zhuyu makes a drastic move. He uses his own core to absorb all the evil energy. This causes the real Evil Spirit Infant to resurrect inside of him.
When everyone else arrives, they find Mei Zhuyu almost completely consumed by the Infant. It even mimics his voice, trying to trick Wu Zhen into sparing him. But she remembers what he told her. She finally understands what the Cat Duke meant by the "critical moment." She takes the Changxi Jian and stabs him straight through the heart. The Infant screams and dissolves in the holy light. Mei Zhuyu, finally clear-headed, collapses into her arms as snow begins to fall.
A Snowy Farewell
Wu Zhen is a mess. She sobs about their wedding vows, thinking it was just a normal part of life. She never imagined it would lead to this. She feels immense guilt. He gave her his entire mortal life, and she could only give him a few moments in return. But Mei Zhuyu doesn't blame her. He knows she had her duties as the Cat Duke. He just sighs that a mortal's life is short anyway. Then, he dies in her arms.
Life After
Three Months Later
Life starts to move on. Hu Zhu is running the Ruyi Lounge, and business is booming. The folks at Changxi Palace are getting by, taking on odd jobs to fight demons so they're not starving anymore. Shuang Jiang and his brothers ride out of the city. He looks back toward Chang'an and whispers, "Take care." From the Ruyi Lounge, Hu Zhu looks out in the same direction and says, "Be well."
Loose Ends Tied Up
Mei Si wrote a new book about demons that's a huge hit. He portrays them as beings with deep feelings, and people love it. One day, he finds a hidden note in a wooden puppet. He learns that Xuanhui secretly swapped bodies to make sure he and Liu Taizhen could be together. He finds Xuanhui, now a small snake, in the Demon Market. After the snake is led away, he sees Liu Taizhen nearby. They look at each other and smile.
The Big Twist
He's Back... Or Is He?
Back in the palace, the Emperor and his family are enjoying some quiet time. Wu Zhen, meanwhile, returns home as a cat before changing back to her human form. She sits at her vanity and complains about how much work it is to rebuild the Demon Market. She looks over at Mei Zhuyu, who has been in a coma for three months, and scolds him for sleeping so long.
She leaves the room to eat. The camera stays on Mei Zhuyu. His eyes snap open. They glow with an eerie gold light.
Ten Months Later
Another seven months pass. Wu Zhen is now pregnant.Mei Zhuyu is awake and spoils her with every sweet he can find in the city. While she's playing with a puppet, she accidentally triggers a mechanism. Suddenly, they swap bodies.
Wu Zhen isn't in any hurry to switch back. She says she's been suffering through the pregnancy for months and deserves a break. She decides to use his body to go to the Ruyi Lounge for a drink. Mei Zhuyu just watches her go with a soft, loving look in his eyes.
