Episode Summary
Minister Li survives his injuries. Xiao Huan, acting as the Ghost King, creates an antidote for the Lingbi Sect's poison. Ling Cangcang confirms Xiao Huan's secret identity. Xiao Qianqing helps Zhong Lin escape to find the truth about his mother. Xiao Huan raids the Lingbi Sect and neutralizes their control over their victims. Just as he is about to kill the Saintess, he recognizes a tattoo on her hand that matches his mother's, while the Saintess tries to goad him into killing her.
Spoiler Alert
Love and Crown Episode 33 Recap: The Ghost King Returns
Survival of the Fittest
We start with some good news for once. Imperial Physician Li worked his magic on Minister Li. The old man is tough. He survived the attack and is out of immediate danger. Hong Qing brings this news to Xiao Huan.
But Xiao Huan isn't popping champagne yet. The name "Ghost King" is spreading through the martial arts world like wildfire. He sees the bigger picture. The relationship between the Lingbi Sect and Nanrong Palace is getting messy. Xiao Huan figures the attempt on Li Chengtian’s life was just an opening move. He decides to take the initiative. If anyone is going to make a move, it should be him, not the cult.
Meanwhile, Ling Cangcang hears the rumors about the Ghost King. She assumes her master is dead. That leaves only one option for who is behind the mask. She suspects it’s Xiao Huan.
Snooping Around
Cangcang doesn't sit on that information. She sneaks into Xiao Huan’s palace to get proof. She hears voices. She turns to look. Someone knocks her out cold.
She wakes up in a strange room. She spots a Moon Eclipse Earthworm. That confirms it for her. Only Xiao Huan would have that. She tries to investigate further, but the place is empty. The bird has flown.
Over at the Lingbi Sect, the Saintess is busy being creepy. She cultivated a poisonous willow tree to control her followers. She thinks she has the upper hand. She believes she can easily capture the Ghost King if he possesses the poison she’s looking for.
Toxic Relationships
Xiao Huan secures the source of the poison. He hands it off to Imperial Physician Li to brew an antidote.
Du Tingxin is on a rampage. She hates Xiao Huan’s plans to abolish the old system. She vows to destroy everything he cares about. She starts by tormenting Xiao Qianqing. She brings up the bracelet Zhong Lin broke. She knows exactly how to push Qianqing’s buttons. Qianqing wants to kill her right there. But he holds back. Du Tingxin claims she can make Zhong Lin obedient forever.
Physician Li comes through in the clutch. He creates the antidote for the Heart-Eating Poison. Xiao Huan tests it on a Lingbi spy. It works. The spy is grateful but regrets not meeting Xiao Huan sooner. He could have saved his friends.
Xiao Huan reads a letter and looks worried. He’s thinking about Cangcang.
The Breakout
Du Tingxin drags Zhong Lin away. Xiao Qianqing steps in just in time. He plays it cool. He tells Zhong Lin to stay put and live quietly with him. He claims it’s safer since Du Tingxin is acting like a mad dog.
But that’s a cover. Once the coast is clear, Qianqing lets Zhong Lin go. He tells him to run. He wants Zhong Lin to investigate the truth and clear his mother’s name.
News of the escape reaches the State Preceptor fast. Du Tingxin goes back to the Saintess. She asks why the Saintess helps her without asking for anything in return. The Saintess puts a hairpin in Du’s hair. She looks at Du like she’s seeing a ghost from her past. Du ignores the weird vibe.
We learn the Saintess is suffering. She has nightmares about a child. She has missing memories. She feels like she lost something vital years ago.
The Big Raid
Cangcang gets into trouble again. Hong Qing has to save her. She demands to see Xiao Huan. Hong Qing shuts her down.
Xiao Huan stops hiding. He storms the Lingbi Sect directly. The Saintess sees him and gets a splitting headache. Xiao Huan doesn't hesitate. He attacks with massive power. The Saintess tries her usual trick. She rings her bell to control the poisoned victims. Nothing happens. The antidote worked. Her puppets are free.
A Familiar Tattoo
Xiao Huan watches the Saintess cut down innocent people in frustration. He steps in to end it. He knocks her down. He raises his weapon to kill her.
Then he freezes.
He sees a tattoo on her hand. It hits him hard. He remembers his mother feeding him medicine years ago. She had that exact same tattoo.
The Saintess starts remembering too. Flashes of the past come back. She recalls drinking fake death medicine to save her child. She remembers escaping. She realizes who stands before her. But she doesn't ask for mercy. She uses her words as a weapon. She provokes him. She wants him to strike the killing blow.
