Episode Summary
Tang Lici learns that A'Shui is Fang Zhou's sister, which explains why her blood could save him. He then manipulates a fearful Ghost Peony into sending him back in time using the Heaven-Changing Sutra. Tang Lici's plan is to kill the unborn Yique Yinyang, but he discovers the pregnant Goddess is actually his own mother.
Spoiler Alert
Tang Lici vs. The Emotionless Puppet
The episode kicks off with Tang Lici at the Wandering Plum Garden. He has a little chat with Ghost Peony. Ghost Peony is extremely smug. He thinks he has Tang Lici all figured out.
To prove his point, he shows off his collection of masks. He claims these masks represent every possible human expression. Tang Lici is not impressed. He tells him the masks are missing something important. They can't show the really complicated stuff. Ghost Peony is just confused. He has no idea what Tang Lici is talking about.
Tang Lici explains that his time with Fang Zhou changed him. He learned about love, hate, and loss. He tells Ghost Peony that his current feeling is a mix of all of it. It’s love and hate. It’s joy and sadness. And it all leads to a sense of release. He says someone without feelings, like Ghost Peony, could never get it. He talks about his time at Zhaodi Tower. He mentions the friends he made at the Central Plains Sword Association. After Tang Lici leaves, something strange happens. Ghost Peony actually sheds a tear.
The Big Family Secret
Ghost Peony drops a huge piece of information on Tang Lici. We learn that A'Shui is actually Fang Zhou's sister. This is the key to everything. It finally explains why her blood was able to save him. Her bloodline connects to the Heart Crystal from Fang Zhou that's inside him.
Suddenly, it all makes sense for Tang Lici. All his questions are answered. He completely forgives A'Shui for everything she did.
A'Shui's Crisis of Conscience
We also get a look at things from A'Shui's side. She's the one bringing Tang Lici his food while he's locked up. She's really struggling with this. Yes, Tang Lici hurt her brother. But she just can't bring herself to hate him.
She remembers when she first met Fang Zhou. He was so kind and full of life. She also remembers something important. Fang Zhou told her that if she was ever in danger, she should find Tang Lici. He called Tang Lici a very good friend. This is tearing her apart.
The Worst Team-Up Ever
Today is the day they are supposed to resurrect Yique Yinyang. Ghost Peony asks Tang Lici if he has any last wishes. Tang Lici stays perfectly calm. He flips the question back on him. He asks what will happen to the two of them after Yique Yinyang comes back.
Ghost Peony just assumes he will merge with the big bad. Tang Lici laughs at him. He points out that Ghost Peony is just an emotionless puppet. He's useless to Yique Yinyang. He tells him he'll probably be the first one to get vaporized.
This terrifies Ghost Peony. He immediately suggests a new plan. He wants to team up with Tang Lici to destroy Yique Yinyang. Then they would be the most powerful beings around. Tang Lici pretends to agree. He's just trying to buy himself some time.
Back to the Beginning
Ghost Peony opens the Heaven-Changing Sutra. He sends Tang Lici back in time to the very beginning.
An Impossible Choice
Tang Lici arrives in the past. This is a time before Ye Luo was even born. He finds the Dragon Goddess. She is pregnant. Tang Lici realizes the baby inside her must be Yique Yinyang. His plan is simple. He has to destroy the fetus now to stop the future chaos.
He gets close to the Goddess. She is so peaceful and kind. The moment she sees Tang Lici, she calls him "child." He feels a powerful sense of familiarity, but he doesn't understand why.
The Ultimate Reveal
Tang Lici assumed the Goddess was Ye Luo's mother. He was wrong. The Goddess tells him the name of her unborn child is Tang Jia. Tang Lici's heart starts pounding. He realizes this pregnant woman is his own mother. He has never met her before.
Just then, his cover is blown. Guards show up and start attacking. His mother tells him to run. He wants to save her and take her with him, but she can't be moved. He has no choice but to escape alone. He flies up and immediately goes to deal with Ghost Peony.
