Episode Summary
Situ Ling recognizes Ming Yi as his childhood hero, Ming Xian, and vows to protect her secret. Ji Bozai targets Xun Ming for revenge and learns he must enter Xun Ming's memories to kill him. While searching for a magical item for Xun Ming, Situ Ling accidentally causes a fire, leading to a jealous confrontation with Ji Bozai and a surprise marriage proposal from Ming Yi. The episode ends with Ming Yi learning her best friend is marrying Xun Ming, giving Ji Bozai a perfect opening to get closer to his enemy.
Spoiler Alert
A Blast from the Past
Situ Ling's Hero Worship
We finally get the backstory on Situ Ling. It turns out he was born without any spiritual veins. This made him an outcast in his own family. His father and brother basically ignored him. He wasn't even allowed to watch the big Qingyun Tournament.
But then he met someone. A young man who was kind to him. This person listened to his story and personally took him into the tournament. Before the match, this stranger saw the gold bracelet Situ Ling was holding. He borrowed it, put it on, and then went on to win the whole thing.
That person was Ming Xian. Or, who Situ Ling thoughtwas a male version of Ming Xian. From that day on, Situ Ling saw him as a god.
So, you can imagine his shock when Ming Yi walks into the Si Pan Hall. He immediately pulls out the bracelet he's kept safe all these years. He knows it's her. He's confused about the whole gender-swap situation. He's also confused about why she's using the name Ming Yi and pretending not to know him. But he swallows his questions. He just promises to keep her secret.
Everyone's Got a Secret Plan
Ji Bozai Hunts a Fox
Ji Bozai is busy with his own agenda. He escorts Ruoshui safely out of Jixing Yuan. She's grateful he saved her life. As a thank you, she gives him a very rare herb called Jian Ye Cao. Ji Bozai tries to refuse it. Bu Xiu, ever the practical one, just takes it for him to end the awkward back-and-forth.
Later, Ji Bozai decides on his next revenge target. It's Xun Ming. He goes to a place called Hua Yue Ye to find Fu Yue. She's part of the You Su Fox Clan. He offers her a huge amount of money for one thing. He wants to know how to kill Xun Ming. Fu Yue tells him it's complicated. To kill Xun Ming, you have to find his most cherished memory. His true form can only be found inside that memory world.
Situ Ling's Shady Mission
Xun Ming shows up at Situ Ling's place that night. He pressures Situ Ling to investigate some demon beast tracks. But it's a lie. He gives Situ Ling a magical device. He really wants him to find an object called the Huang Liang Meng. Xun Ming plans to use Situ Ling to track it down. Situ Ling knows something is off about the whole thing. He doesn't let it show, though. He just plays along.
Fire, Jealousy, and a Proposal
Things Get Heated at the Warehouse
Situ Ling heads to Wugui Hai. He uses the "demon beast" hunt as his excuse. His real goal is to find the Huang Liang Meng. Ming Yi sees right through it. She knows he's getting too close to Ji Bozai's secrets, specifically the Lingxi Well.
She rushes to the warehouse to run interference. She pretends to help with the search. But she keeps making up excuses to stop them from going deeper inside. It almost works. Then one of Situ Ling's clumsy followers accidentally sets the warehouse on fire. Ming Yi immediately starts crying her eyes out. She puts on a very convincing performance of being heartbroken over the loss.
Ming Yi Makes Her Move
Ji Bozai comes back right in the middle of this mess. He sees Situ Ling gently comforting a crying Ming Yi. The jealousy is immediate and obvious.
After Situ Ling and his men leave, Ming Yi explains the whole situation to Ji Bozai. Then she drops a bomb on him. She suggests he should just marry her. That way, no one else will try to get close to her. Ji Bozai doesn't say no. Ming Yi is secretly thrilled. She thinks her plan is working.
Complicated Feelings and a Surprise Wedding
Situ Ling's One-Track Mind
Situ Ling is so excited he can barely contain himself. He immediately finds his confidante, Fu Yue. He tells her the good news. He found Ming Xian. Fu Yue looks sad for a second but forces a smile. She congratulates him.
She does try to warn him, though. Ming Yi is with Ji Bozai now. If Situ Ling helps her, he'll be making an enemy of Mu Qibai. Situ Ling doesn't care at all. He's already mastered a powerful technique called the Thousand Insect Technique. But he still wants the Huang Liang Meng. He believes it will let him grow spiritual veins. He wants to become a powerful warrior just like Ming Xian. Then he can finally protect the person he's been thinking about all these years.
A Wedding Invitation (or Lack Thereof)
Xun Ming's magical compass was destroyed. He goes to Hua Yue Ye himself to find out more about Ming Yi. But there, he sees someone else. A woman named Zhang Tai. She looks exactly like a lover he lost long ago. He's completely mesmerized. He just stands there staring at her, forgetting why he even came.
The next morning, Xun Popo brings Ming Yi a chest full of gifts from Ji Bozai. It's filled with jewelry and expensive silks. Twenty-Seven is completely baffled. She warns Ming Yi not to be fooled by Ji Bozai's gestures.
Then Twenty-Seven tells Ming Yi that her best friend, Zhang Tai, is getting married. Ming Yi is stunned. Zhang Tai never said a word to her. She feels like something is very wrong. She runs to Ji Bozai and asks for permission to go to Hua Yue Ye. Ji Bozai puts two and two together. He figures out Zhang Tai must be marrying Xun Ming. This is the perfect opportunity. He can use Ming Yi's friendship with Zhang Tai to get close to his target. So he agrees to let her go. He even offers to go with her.
