In Episode 21, Bai Shimen finds himself imprisoned in a dark cell, filled with regret. He repeatedly blames himself for failing in his duties as a father. Meanwhile, in another nearby cell, Shui'er quietly reveals a secret to Gou'er — Bai Shimen is actually her biological father. Gou'er suddenly realizes the significance of Shui'er calling out that name in her feverish dreams, which he had thought was mere delirium, unaware of the deeper story behind it.
Shui'er believes that her father wanted her to forget the name "Bai Shimen" and instead use "Bei Luo Shi Men" to help her distance herself from painful memories of the past. Whenever she tried to access those memories, her father found a way to erase them, protecting her from harm. She shows Gou'er her small BCG scar, a mark every child has — a symbol of vaccination and a sign of growth. Shui'er is convinced that since both she and Gou'er come from a different world, everything in Mingjing Village is an illusion, and Gou'er must have his own family.
Meanwhile, Xu Chu continues to encourage the despondent Cao Yan Bing, reminding him of Xia Ling. However, Cao Yan Bing stubbornly refuses to involve her in the danger, deliberately pushing her away. With the death of his comrade Wen Ze and the severe injury of Gui Fu Santong, Cao Yan Bing's guilt intensifies; he fears that more people will die because of him. Xu Chu points out that Xia Ling’s guardian spirit, Li Xuan Yuan, is powerful and a trustworthy ally, on par with Cao Yan Bing.
Despite his own injuries and growing despair, Cao Yan Bing is unwilling to let the world fall into the hands of treacherous individuals like Nan Yufu. He knows that his brother, Cao Xuanliang, would seek revenge for him, but he worries that his brother might not be strong enough to face their enemies. In this moment, Cao Yan Bing's longing for Xia Ling deepens.
At a critical moment, Xia Ling and Zhao Xin arrive. Xia Ling selflessly uses Zhao Xin’s specially designed iron rod as a "revival needle," stabbing it into Cao Yan Bing’s chest to save his life. As Cao Yan Bing begins to regain consciousness, Xia Ling is overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down her face as she hugs him tightly, even though this causes him pain.
Subsequently, the ancient spirit Dian Wei awakens, and Cao Yan Bing is reborn with the power of the War God. Dian Wei, sensing the presence of Zhang Xiu, awakens, surprising everyone with this historical connection. Xia Ling is dissatisfied with Zhao Xin’s "Love Awakening" plan, as she had believed her love alone could revive Cao Yan Bing, only to discover that hatred triggered Dian Wei's power.
Zhao Xin explains that the complex emotions between Zhang Xiu and Dian Wei were crucial for awakening the latter. Xia Ling is only partially understanding, while Cao Yan Bing humorously teases, earning himself a scolding from Xia Ling.
Cao Yan Bing resolves to face everything on the mountain the next day. When the elder asks about his intentions, he firmly declares that he wants to end it all, even at the cost of his life. The elder advises him to accept his fate and not to force it.
Wearing the Spirit Lock Stone, Cao Yan Bing endures a powerful blow from Shimazu Yoshihiro, surprising Zi Wei and the others with his resilience. Though Nan Yufu does not see Cao Yan Bing as a significant threat, he still lays plans, sending Tai Wei to find Bei Luo Shi Men in an attempt to seize the ultimate fruit.
Comments(Episode 21)