Episode Summary
Wu Zhen discovers the "Boneless Bone" is actually the remains of a powerful old enemy, the "Evil Spirit Infant," putting the Demon Market at risk. A new demon, Shan Posuo, begins preying on villagers near Chang'an. Mei Zhuyu volunteers to investigate the disappearances and plans to propose to Wu Zhen. They team up to search the mountains, where they encounter Shan Posuo's magic, while one of Wu Zhen's own allies, the Wordless Book, secretly takes sinister steps to further his own agenda.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 5 of Moonlit Reunion begins with Mei Zhuyu about to have a serious talk when Wen Hua walks in, breaking the tension. Wu Zhen, in her cat form, takes the opportunity to leap onto the desk, and for once, Mei Zhuyu willingly scoops her up for a cuddle. Later that night, he buries what he believes is the powerful "Boneless Bone," sealing it with a spell. He has no idea that Wu Zhen has already swapped it for a fake.
Wu Zhen takes the real bone back to the Demon Market. She and the elders try to destroy it, but when it shatters, a terrifying evil energy bursts out. To their horror, they realize it's the skeleton of the "Evil Spirit Infant," a monstrous creature that nearly destroyed the Demon Market eighteen years ago. The previous Cat Duke had to sacrifice his own soul to defeat it. Now that its remains have reappeared, it could mean the creature is coming back, putting everyone in grave danger.
Meanwhile, a new threat emerges. A woodcutter in the mountains is lost in a sudden, thick fog. He sees what looks like his long-dead mother and, overwhelmed with emotion, kneels before her. He doesn't notice her sinister smile as she transforms into a young woman named Shan Posuo and drains his life force completely.
Back in Chang'an, six villagers have gone missing, and the case is causing a panic. Mei Zhuyu wants to investigate personally, but his superior, Xu Luan, sends three deputies instead. The deputies assume the villagers just got lost or ate poisonous mushrooms. But as they search, a dense fog rolls in, and the path twists—it's a trap set by Shan Posuo. Three of the missing villagers, now looking like zombies with gray skin and cloudy eyes, stumble out of the fog and attack them. Just as Shan Posuo is about to claim her new victims, a Rat Spirit interrupts, warning her that being so reckless will attract the Demon Market's leaders. Seeing her hesitate, the Rat Spirit offers to help her.
Mei Zhuyu is doing his own research but finds a massive hole in the official records: there's no mention of the "sky fire" incident from eighteen years ago. When he asks Xu Luan about it, Xu Luan gets cagey and says the files were confiscated by the palace. At the same time, desperate villagers from the western suburbs show up at Liu Gong Shen's manor, begging for justice. Liu Gong Shen publicly confronts Xu Luan, but both of their departments try to pass the buck, refusing to handle the tricky case.
With the crowd outside getting restless, Mei Zhuyu steps forward and volunteers to take the case. Liu Gong Shen immediately agrees. From a nearby carriage, Wu Zhen and Liu Taizhen exchange a knowing look. They head back to the Demon Market, where the Snake Duke's assistant, Zhu Ying, reports that a special "Thunderstruck Wood"—the only thing that can neutralize the evil bone's energy—is located in the western suburbs. Wu Zhen decides she must go there herself.
Mei Zhuyu, on the other hand, is thinking about his future. He gathers all his money, planning to propose to Wu Zhen in a few days. Worried that his muddy path and rundown donkey shed aren't good enough for her, he orders Wen Hua to hire workers to pave the path and tear down the shed.
Concerned for her sister's safety, the Empress sends two of her best guards, Huai An and Lin Yuan, to protect Wu Zhen. Wu Zhen finds them unnecessary but takes them along to the western suburbs. When she arrives, she finds Mei Zhuyu surrounded by angry villagers who think he's not taking their missing loved ones seriously. Wu Zhen reveals her royal identity, and her authority immediately quiets the crowd. As they head into the mountains to investigate, the scene turns sweet, with Mei Zhuyu leading the donkey that Wu Zhen is riding.
Elsewhere, things get darker. Elder Hui tries to report a missing Rat Spirit to Wu Zhen, but the "Wordless Book" intercepts him, promising to handle it. The elder warns him not to be blindly loyal, reminding him that Wu Zhen is still half-human. Once the elder is gone, the Wordless Book goes to a secret room. He was already planning to use a demon core to speed up Wu Zhen's full demon transformation. To cover his tracks and avoid suspicion from Elder Hui, he throws the very Rat Spirit who went missing into a furnace, silencing him for good.
As Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu venture deeper into the mountain, they encounter a foul-smelling mist. Mei Zhuyu thinks it's just fog, but Wu Zhen instantly recognizes Shan Posuo's magic. She gives him a cloth to cover his face, and they find another way around it. During their detour, Wu Zhen sprains her ankle, and without a second thought, Mei Zhuyu lifts her onto his back and carries her the rest of the way.
