Episode 23 recap: Nan Yan participated in the selection for the evil lord's bride.
In Episode 23, Ji Yang suspects that the villagers have limited knowledge of the Netherworld Prison, and that the sacrifice ritual might have a hidden agenda. They decide to wait and see what happens when the formation is activated tomorrow. Ji Yang is surprised that she didn't wish for him, and Nan Yan tells him that if things go well, she hopes he will return to the Sorrow Mountain and the Blue Sea with her one day. However, Ji Yang finds the Sorrow Mountain and the Blue Sea too peaceful. He is a worldly man and wants to experience the world's pleasures with Nan Yan.
He pulls Nan Yan into his arms, wanting her to forget about the world for a moment and focus on them. He reveals that he wished for all of Nan Yan's wishes to come true, which brings a sweet smile to her face.
Meanwhile, Yin Ya and Mu Zhan Ting enter the demon-sealing battle, but they unknowingly inhale a large amount of mirage mist and faint. Yin Ya, remembering the scene of his people being captured, is overwhelmed with pain. However, thanks to the Master of Bitterness's protective consciousness, he quickly wakes up and dispels the mist, awakening Mu Zhan Ting, who had fallen into a dream of being a poet.
After regaining their composure, Yin Ya tells Mu Zhan Ting about the story of Qingqiu, reminiscing about his gentle and beautiful sister. He regrets his past impulsiveness, wishing he had stayed with his family instead of traveling the world, knowing the fate that would befall the fox clan.
Mu Zhan Ting wants to get more of the mirage mist, but Yin Ya warns him that a day in the illusionary world is equivalent to decades in the human world. Many people unknowingly become skeletons while lost in the illusion.
Hui Xiang envies Nan Yan and Ji Yang's relationship, wishing she could marry someone like Ji Yang. Ji Yang jokingly tells her to learn from Nan Yan, but she looks dejected and reveals that she has already made a wish to be the bride chosen for the sacrifice tomorrow, hoping to offer herself to the Evil Lord. This news shocks Nan Yan and Ji Yang.
Yin Ya and Mu Zhan Ting find the real demon-sealing formation and learn that the guardian is a musician. Only by playing the "Silent Night Distant" melody can they break the formation. However, the original "Sick Wine Qin" needed to play the melody has been destroyed. Mu Zhan Ting learns that the best replica is on the Whale Boat and decides to steal it, hoping to play it and summon the guardian.
Meanwhile, Hui Xiang brings Nan Yan and Ji Yang to the Evil Lord's temple and tells them about the Evil Lord's sudden arrival a hundred years ago. Blood-red thorns spread from his mansion, threatening the entire village. The ancestors desperately searched for a solution and finally chose a bride to be sent to the mansion. This successfully stopped the spread of the thorns.
Ever since, the village has annually chosen a woman to marry the Evil Lord, honoring her as the Queen and providing her family with various privileges.
Hui Xiang, determined to give her younger brother, Eight Corners, a better life, decides to become the Evil Lord's bride. However, the bride selection process involves many trials, and she doesn't feel confident enough. Nan Yan, heartbroken for Hui Xiang, wants to use this opportunity to become the Queen and enter the Second Prison, which would also allow her to save Hui Xiang.
They then find Huo Wuji and directly ask to become the Queen. Initially, Huo Wuji refuses, but Ji Yang threatens him with force. Huo Wuji, unable to resist, reluctantly agrees, saying that if Nan Yan wins the competition today, she can participate in the Queen's selection.
Yin Ya plays his instrument for a long time, but nothing happens. Just as Mu Zhan Ting thinks it's useless, a young-looking man with white hair appears. He refuses Yin Ya's request to open the formation and rescue his people.
Yin Ya and Mu Zhan Ting team up to fight the man. The man is shocked to see the Silver Dragon Pearl and angrily asks why Yin Ya possesses it.
Nan Yan enters the circle to participate in the flower ball competition. As more and more people are eliminated, she wins with Ji Yang's help.
Hui Xiang learns that Nan Yan is also participating in the selection and is upset, believing that Nan Yan is deliberately trying to steal her bride position. She vows to compete with Nan Yan and will show no mercy.
It turns out that the man guarding the formation is Nan Rao's younger brother, Nan Yi. Mu Zhan Ting is overjoyed and calls him "uncle," thinking that this connection will allow them to enter the formation easily. However, Nan Yi still refuses.
Nan Yi insists that the reappearance of the demon race has caused chaos, and that the Dao of Heaven must protect the overall situation. Yin Ya angrily questions him, saying that his loved ones are innocent and should not be punished simply because they are demons.
Yin Ya already knows why Nan Yi became the guardian. He was once the young master of the Yao Palace but was banished here after committing the crime of massacring the city of Linglongjing for love of a merfolk.
Nan Yi is touched by Yin Ya's words and angrily tells him to shut up. Mu Zhan Ting quickly stops Yin Ya from continuing.
The next day, Nan Yan is dressed in beautiful attire, transformed into a stunning bride. She follows Ji Yang to the selection site, where Hui Xiang is cold towards her, seemingly viewing her as an enemy.
Huo Wuji goes on stage and announces the old rules of the selection: each participant takes a red candle and enters the Turbulent Wind Cave. If anyone emerges from the cave with their candle still lit, they will become this year's Queen.
Comments(Episode 23)