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TL;DR Version
DFQC takes care of Orchid’s primordial spirit in Xishan. Orchid wakes up and sees the Great Turtle, and understands now that her destiny to is bless all the people of the realm. As the Xishan Goddess, she doesn’t remember DFQC and isn’t interested in him, no matter how hard she tries. Chang Heng shows up and she’s ready to proceed with the marriage.
Recap
DFQC and Chang Heng sit in the grass in Xishan. Chang Heng warns that having Orchid primordial spirit stripped from DFQC’s will be very painful. Everything has to be painful for DFQC.
Chang Heng does his magic, and a glowing light floats into DFQC’s hands and turns into a seedling. Chang Heng leaves to go back to Shuiyuntian because of Chi Di Nu Zi’s return.
DFQC takes care of the seedling the way he took care of Orchid back when he wanted something from her. He’s more patient and focused this time, as he carefully waters her, carries her in the sun, and protects her from bad weather. He updates her on seeing her master and is worried that she isn’t growing quickly because she’s angry with him. It’s like watching a man romance a plant.
When he leaves to get dew, Orchid wakes up in the Great Turtle’s realm. She remembers everything as the Xishan Goddess, Xiyun, and promises to let go of her life as Orchid. Her fate is to bring blessings to all beings in the three realms. From the Great Turtle we learn that she’s one of a long line of failed Goddesses, but her experiences as Orchid have prepared her for success.
DFQC sees flower petals flowing through the air and goes running. She’s in the ruins, remembering Rong Hao slaughtering her people. She knocks DFQC back before he reaches her. She looks like a regal Goddess now, calm and expressionless.
She goes inside a nearby structure and erects a shield to keep him out. He thinks she’s angry and wants her to act that way, not ignore him. She says her name is Xiyun, not Orchid, and she doesn’t know him. He promises to stay and guard her until she forgives him.
In Shuiyuntian, Chi Di Nu Zi practices her sword fighting. Then her eyes glow red and she randomly murders a bird.
DFQC explains to Shang Que that Orchid lost her memory. Shang Que thinks she’s faking, but DFQC feels it’s really her. He’s glad, she’s forgotten his treatment of her and they can start over. He’s going to get her to fall in love with him again.
Shang Que thinks Orchid fell in love with DFQC when he first took care of her and advises him to do that all over again. DFQC creates a 5th Siming Hall and brings her there. He treats her as the Goddess and a stranger and offers to serve her. He pretends he’s from Shuiyuntian. She knows he’s not a fairy, but the Xilan tribe doesn’t discriminate so she accepts his offer.
DFQC cooks her what Orchid loved to eat, but the Xishan Goddess rejects him. He tries to keep her company, but she vanishes to her garden. He finds her there and when he tells her how important she is to him, she says she’s just a grass with spiritual wisdom. She likes being alone and wants to be left that way.
Shang Que now thinks she isn’t Orchid. But DFQC refuses to listen.
The next day DFQC goes to wake her and remembers Orchid doesn’t wake up early. But the Goddess Xishan is already up, and not interested in going to see the sunrise with him since she was just meditating there.
This hits him hard. His Orchid was emotional, with likes, dislikes, fears, etc. This Goddess doesn’t like or want anything. Orchid once told him to smile even when sad, and he’d feel better. He says that she wasn’t right.
Chang Heng shows up and tells him to leave since she doesn’t want him there. DFQC tells him that she’s no longer Orchid.
The Xishan Goddess greets Chang Heng as a stranger, and a fiance she hasn’t seen in 30,000 years. She’s ready to marry, but Chang Heng doesn’t look excited.
DFQC thinks Chang Heng should be pleased, but he isn’t. He’s even angry DFQC doesn’t know him well enough to realize that he’d be upset for the same reasons as DFQC. He’s angry with how DFQC treated her and wants Orchid back.
Chi Di Nu Zi sits with Dan Yin, who is going on and on about her admiration for the first god of war like she’s just met her idol. Chi Di Nu Zi loses it and slashes Dan Yin’s throat.
Thoughts
There’s a drop of energy in this episode that bothers me a smidge, as I think the pacing in this last quarter isn’t quite right. The last few episodes were too intense, this one is too subdued.
I love the 5th Siming Hall and that the three realms are now dotted with them. Such a great way to save money on production and yet have a fantastical, whimsical note to the story.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned how awesome the costumes are lately. The fairy outfits are a little bland, but Orchid’s Moon Tribe outfits have been stunning. DFQC’s outfits have been fantastic from beginning to end. Many of them have celestial-inspired details and motifs that almost distract from what’s happening on screen.
Speaking of details, the peak in Xishan that DFQC picked out sounded like something out of a travel brochure. It’s these kinds of details that set a good strong story apart from a weak one. Stories that have vague descriptions and ideas feel fake and are hard to get into. We will never see the peak DFQC talked about, but it sounded like it really exists.
The missing detail is what Xishan Goddess is doing while DFQC woos her. She seems to be hanging out, reading and meditating. Even a throwaway line about needing to regain her strength before she gets back to her duties would have been nice.
I love, love that both DFQC and Chang Heng miss Orchid with all her emotions. Again and again, this show prizes emotions over everything else. It doesn’t matter that she’s a goddess now, she’s too emotionless. And now Chang Heng and DFQC, who earlier were hiding or suppressing their emotions, are now showing and feeling them out in the open.