Episode 2 recap: Cui Chen is actually Master Mu Bai.
Zhao Tan Tan cannot fly without reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. In order to conceal her abilities, she asked Cui Chen to turn around under the pretense that the techniques of the Qing Yuan Sect should not be easily seen by others. By the time she managed to climb over the wall, Cui Chen had already opened the door and entered. It was then that Zhao Tan Tan realized that the door could be pushed or pulled, and she felt frustrated by her previous oversight.
The tree spirit, provoked by Zhao Tan Tan's challenge, attacked her with its branches and unexpectedly bound her with vine ropes, lifting her into the air. Seeing that the tree spirit was about to reveal itself, Cui Chen quickly intervened and secretly helped Zhao Tan Tan. As a result, Zhao Tan Tan regained her freedom.
After Zhao Tan Tan landed, the tree spirit revealed its true form, explaining that it had come to the Liu residence to practice cultivation because its exceptional medical skills were not recognized and it had nowhere else to showcase them. It had carefully calculated and chosen the Liu residence. Zhao Tan Tan believed that such actions were not befitting of a true hero, and the two immediately engaged in a physical confrontation, using vine ropes as weapons to harm each other. Seeing that Zhao Tan Tan was about to lose, Cui Chen once again secretly assisted her, leading to the defeat of the tree spirit, although it was reluctant to accept its defeat.
Cui Chen knew that trees were most afraid of termites, so he subtly hinted to Zhao Tan Tan and even presented her with a box of termites. Zhao Tan Tan understood the implication and used the threat of termites to coerce the tree spirit. Upon learning of the tree spirit's exceptional medical skills, she immediately thought of the many unused herbs in the Qing Yuan Sect's back mountain. Therefore, she invited the tree spirit to stay in their sect, where its medical skills could be utilized to create a new source of income for the Qing Yuan Sect.
The tree spirit seemed skeptical that someone could view it without prejudice and didn't immediately agree to Zhao Tan Tan's proposal. However, it agreed to stage a play with Zhao Tan Tan to let the people of Xin Huai Village know that it was Zhao Tan Tan who subdued it, allowing Zhao Tan Tan to collect fees. But the old village chief was wise and first praised Zhao Tan Tan, then presented her with a specially made banner, praising her beauty, kindness, and anonymous good deeds.
Zhao Tan Tan hinted to the old village chief that money would be a suitable expression of gratitude. In response, the old village chief had the villagers loudly praise Zhao Tan Tan, and she reluctantly accepted the banner. Zhao Tan Tan allowed the tree spirit to leave on its own but expressed that it was always welcome to join the Qing Yuan Sect. This left the tree spirit unsure of how to decide, so it chose to follow Zhao Tan Tan for the time being.
Cui Chen observed Zhao Tan Tan's fascination with everything and remembered that the lotus pattern didn't like to eat dried durian. He specially brought a plate of it for Zhao Tan Tan to enjoy. Seeing Zhao Tan Tan happily eating it, Cui Chen then tested her with coriander. Zhao Tan Tan still enjoyed it, leading him to realize that Zhao Tan Tan was not the lotus pattern he knew.
After Zhao Tan Tan accepted Cui Chen as her disciple, she immediately rushed back to Qing Yuan Mountain with her entourage. The sect leader, shouting "Good disciple!" with open arms, came running towards them, thinking it was for her. She opened her arms, ready to embrace the sect leader, but the sect leader bypassed her and embraced Cui Chen directly, inquiring about his whereabouts over the past hundred years. Zhao Tan Tan, standing aside, couldn't accept it and kept reminding the sect leader that she was his beloved disciple, but the sect leader didn't pay any attention to her and only showed interest in Cui Chen.
Cui Chen needed a place to stay upon returning to the mountain, and the sect leader asked Zhao Tan Tan to give up her room. Zhao Tan Tan was unwilling, but she couldn't resist Cui Chen intentionally provoking her. After agreeing, she realized that she had fallen into a trap and felt extremely dejected. Most of the rooms in the Qing Yuan sect leaked when it rained, but the sect leader specifically gave Zhao Tan Tan the one room that didn't leak. However, that room had been vacant for a long time, filthy and infested with mice. Seeing the dirty and messy environment in front of her, Zhao Tan Tan became even angrier that Cui Chen had taken over her room. She secretly went back to investigate and discovered that the sect leader had taken out the precious wine that had been cherished all along and was drinking it with Cui Chen. When she had taken a sip of that wine before, she was punished for three days. This made her envious and resentful, viewing Cui Chen as a thorn in her side, and she was determined to surpass him.
After a hundred years away from the mountain, Cui Chen finally retrieved a lotus seed from the hands of the demonic clan. The sect leader was very pleased and informed Cui Chen that the current Zhao Tan Tan was not the lotus pattern, and he must not make a mistake. When the master and disciple went to install the lotus seed, Zhao Tan Tan secretly followed them. Taking advantage of her master and Cui Chen being away, she secretly touched the lotus seed and saw Cui Chen professing his love to a woman who looked exactly like her.
Cui Chen believed that Zhao Tan Tan looked exactly like the lotus pattern and held onto a glimmer of hope. So he deliberately took Zhao Tan Tan to their secret base from his time with the lotus pattern, and he pulled Zhao Tan Tan into the lotus pond. Both of them ended up covered in dirt, which made Zhao Tan Tan very angry. She believed that Cui Chen was two-faced and deliberately playing tricks on her. Filled with anger, she went back to her room, thinking about finding an opportunity to play a prank on Cui Chen.
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