Episode Summary
Qingtong confronts a dark version of herself and passes a spiritual trial, gaining immense power and becoming a city lord. Quan Rumu's attempts to help Fan Yunfei woo Li Xueyang are a complete disaster, but Fan Yunfei's own persistence and strange gifts start to win her over. Meanwhile, Wangquan Fugui discovers the Sand Fox Kingdom is suspiciously interested in Li Xueyang, and Qingtong senses the Black Fox's power, prompting her to go to Tushan.
Spoiler Alert
Qingtong Faces Her Demons (Literally)
The Trial of the Heart
Qingtong is trapped inside the Gate of Sorrow and Joy. Here, she meets a dark reflection of herself. This version of her is pure hate. It tells her that love is the source of all her problems. Her love for Wangquan Fugui didn't make her strong. It only brought her pain. He left her behind every time trouble started. Dark Qingtong asks her what she really got out of it.
Qingtong is in agony. She admits she didn't even get to see him die. The dark version wants her to accept that hate is the only thing that lasts. But Qingtong refuses. She believes that as long as she has love in her heart, she has the will to live. She rejects the path of hate. Her dark self then stabs her, and she starts to die. Just as she's fading, she hears Wangquan Fugui's voice. He once told her she wasn't weak. He said she could be a light for everyone, even from the darkness. This gives her clarity. She understands her own path now. Her purpose is to be like dust that never settles. She summons the Wenchen Sword and passes the trial.
The Real Test
After clearing the stage, Qingtong sees the truth. The Gate of Sorrow and Joy gets its power by hurting people. She refuses to accept the "love seed" power source from them. Instead, she frees all the prisoners trapped inside. This act was the final, true test. By rejecting the Gate's cruel power, she earns a far greater, purer power for herself.
She returns to her city completely changed. Qingcheng immediately senses her immense new demonic energy. Qingtong, in turn, senses that his own energy is chaotic and unstable. She gives her first order as the new leader. The brutal training ground known as the Shura Hall is to be shut down forever. Anyone who enters it without permission will be killed. Qingcheng accepts her authority. He declares Qingtong the new city lord.
The Worst Wingman in History
Operation: Win Over Li Xueyang
Quan Rumu is trying to help Fan Yunfei. First, she has him test his powers. It turns out he can control water. This means he might be able to master the Water-Controlling Pearl. Later, Fan Yunfei smells that Wangquan Fugui is cooking meatballs and runs over. He starts telling Quan Rumu and Wangquan Fugui the story of how he met Li Xueyang. He had a burst of demonic power that saved her life.
Quan Rumu encourages him to be brave and pursue her. The next morning, Fan Yunfei drags Quan Rumu along to go see Li Xueyang. Quan Rumu prepared a bunch of gifts for him to give. Two hours later, Fan Yunfei returns. He's been frozen solid and beaten up again. Quan Rumu looks at his gift list and is horrified. She has to explain that he can't use animal courtship habits on humans.
So, she tries a new tactic. She dresses up as a fortune teller to find out what Li Xueyang likes. She learns that Li Xueyang's ideal man is literary, gentle, romantic, and powerful. A tough combination. Quan Rumu tells Fan Yunfei to write her a love poem. This is nearly impossible for him. Quan Rumu decides she'll just have to work with what she's got.
Persistence Pays Off (Sort Of)
Fan Yunfei gets beaten and thrown out by Li Xueyang again. This becomes a daily routine for both of them. He shows up, and she sends him flying. But this time, something is different. She accepts the flowers he brought her.
Later, Li Xueyang gets injured while fighting demons. Fan Yunfei gets an idea. He captures a water demon and gives it to her as a gift. His logic is that if he brings her demons, she won't have to go out and fight them herself. She is touched by the gesture. But she still tells him that humans and demons can't be together.
The next day, Fan Yunfei brings her seven more captured demons. This time, her attitude really starts to change. She becomes much gentler with him.
Bigger Problems on the Horizon
Wangquan Fugui Gets Suspicious
Wangquan Fugui has been spending his time studying the history of the Sand Fox Kingdom. He finds it strange that the kingdom has prospered for hundreds of years without issue. He digs deeper. He discovers that the Sand Fox Kingdom has been keeping detailed records on every member of the Li family. They paid special attention to Li Xueyang. This makes him very worried about her and Fan Yunfei.
A Trip to Tushan
Qingtong is trying to master her new power. She wants to get strong enough to find Wangquan Fugui. As she meditates, she feels a familiar, dark energy. It's the power of the Black Fox. She realizes she can't ignore this. She decides she must make a trip to Tushan.
