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KJ2025 QinLan has still not been found. I was hoping they would get to say goodbye. HuaiZhu and HongYe visit Tushan hoping the foxes will help make peace accords with the demons. Without help it is not likely the humans can manage it. There is just too much bad blood on both sides. HuaiZhu has promised to combine divine blood with WangQuan to strengthen the alliance and bring back the numbers. Tushan at first did not agree to assist. They wanted to be neutral. But after witnessing and actually feeling the love between HongYe and HuaiZhu, they changed their minds and redistributed land and boundaries to allow a truce and hopefully peace between humans and demons. HuaiZhu’s candid chat and both of them acknowledging to enjoy the time they have helped the Tushans to reconsider. HongYe was so meticulous overseeing HuaiZhu’s care and preparing for child. The baby arrived and what should have been a glorious day became HongYe’s heartbreak. He has already begun shuttering himself in. The light has left his eyes and even his new son can’t bring it back. The falling flute from the dresser was an especially poignant scene. HongYe is going to keep the promise of finding his sword spirit. Young Fu Gui is already following strict routine of sword practice. He allows him fruit from the memorial but does not share stories of HuaiZhu or comfort. We are seeing what he will become when older as a father. But…if he is honoring the requests of HuaiZhu with the sword, that means he must also honor Fu Gui’s request to leave when he asks. We are given a glimpse of the future and hope fate will be kinder.
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Jin RenFeng is nicely countered. I was startled when the sword shattered. This made things slightly different in the wedding arrangements. This traitor of a disciple does not deserve the position they are allowing him. He has unfortunately achieved just enough power to hold it. To keep the noble peace they will join families letting him keep the head of DongFang villa and HuaiZhu will become HongYe’s concubine. I still do not understand all the politics involved with nobles and marriage but I think this is the gist of it. They gave that miscreant a way out to spare the lives of both households. He is so undeserving. And the lack of spirit that HongYe is experiencing I lay blame on the father who suppressed his ability to believe in the possibility of the unbelievable. This may make him a more ‘responsible’ leader…but it has made him see limits rather than possibilities. HuaiZhu is also at a loss. Between QinLan’s missing status, the murder of her father and that snake being in control of her house she is struggling to maintain as it seems she is also with child. I am glad she was given the information on how to take back what he stole. I am thinking the leech demons may have helped with that so no future attempts can be made with this. I am glad she was successful in wounding him and I am glad HongYe was there to assist. I did not think of the flame not harming her and I don’t think he did either. The one thing that has not wavered is his limitless love for her. After all the human cruelty towards them, the demons are now revolting against the humans and the slaughter continues. HongYe and HuiaZhu do not see how to stop the hatred between the species. As long as it exists, the black fox is only suppressed not destroyed. The only satisfaction I have had about RenFeng is seeing the effect of losing ‘ his’ divine blood. At first I thought he was old DongFang not dead trying to undo what was taken. To see him like that was the best scene with him since beginning. HuaiZhu was right that this would be worse than death for him. Nobody knows where QinLan is. They have set up a decoy with guards to make it seem she is protected to stop the searches—but they are still looking themselves. HongYe is bearing all the ill will of the humans not happy that demons are killing en mass and the demons are not interested in making peace with talisman holders. It is a grave situation where everyone is questioning the sacrifices made and wondering when and if this can end.
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HongYe and QuZhou are dealing with survivor guilt. And that wretch RenFeng did not let HuaiZhu know he was alive so he most likely thinks that HuaiZhu doesn’t want to see him. I am glad the servant cleared that up but the delay was too long. Puppy Li and QinLan are definitely star crossed. These two should have been a pair but fate continues to work against them. HuaiZhu and QuZhou talisman have removed QinLan from her home but RenFeng is crafty and had a backup plan. She is last seen throwing herself off a cliff and the cowardly guards aren’t going to let their master know. Shen Yue and LiuShiShi performed brilliantly as parting sisters. They had a most touching scene before she got talisman to transport QinLan. The candies were a very sweet gift and a fitting memory between them. HuaiZhu has fought so bravely. She has held her own in spite of the lie she was told that HongYe was dead. RenFeng is laughing his ass off and showing off his stolen yang fire thinking he has won his prize of the eldest daughter. His misfortune begins when HongYe breaks through the gate. Now that HuaiZhu knows he is alive, even in their current conditions I don’t see them as being stoppable.
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YiTan is saved by Zui’s love. 😭 The only good thing of these battles is showing the extent of their love and the capable acting of this cast. They are being given a spectrum of good/evil characters and they are doing an excellent job making the spectrum believable. HongYe now understands why his moves have been countered so flawlessly. Black fox has had the advantage of YiTan’s foresight. YiTan removes third eye and destroys it to join Zui. He reminds HongYe that they must not lose battle. That their world cannot end in darkness. HongYe is released from being enthralled and HuaiZhu knows it is time to release Twilight Mist flower. He is telling the names of those trapped by her and the combined efforts plus his life force has broken black fox’s shield. They have finally struck what seems to be a fatal blow. At the same time Jin RenFeng has struck. He has gained the Yang fire and plans on getting the sisters as well. HuaiZhu has no strength from black fox battle and cannot fight to save her house. Here is where I am annoyed with their father. He closed his eyes to the jealousy of RenFeng. He treated him like a son and figured he would eventually accept HuaiZhu wasn’t for him. Had he kept himself more aware of the falling of the other nobles to darkness he might have been of more help to his daughters. Considering everything they went through with his wife, I am surprised he did not safeguard them better. Here I think he was like talisman spellcaster. He thought his teachings were enough without really enforcing things. His punishments of RenFeng were to teach him empathy and humility, but what they really did was make him seek other venues to achieve the power and position he wanted. His arrogance would not let him see himself as unworthy or incapable. So black fox easily fed his ego like old Yang and had a willing strongerpawn at her service. I am not sure how long HuaiZhu can delay things pleading QinLan is ill. Dealing with evil on two fronts would have been difficult at optimum strength with help. She will have to deal with this by guiding QinLan who is still immature and unweildly. I am really ticked that he instinctively knew the prime time to strike DongFang family.
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I do not know if I have enough tears for this. 😭The night before the battle the masked knights gather and like warriors they enjoy a celebration of love and companionship with the understanding this may be their last. HuaiZhu and HongYe have made arrangements to take in this battle alone and leave their friends behind. Jin RenFeng is making his first move while HuaiZhu is absent. I now understand why QinLan and QuZhou are not a couple. HongYe is greeted by a wall of the talisman elder. I wonder if he knew the evil he created if he would have still made the boundary, or be like old Yang and in arrogance think he had the power to contain her indefinitely? He is self righteous and trying to protect them but is easily defeated. HongYe is greeted by his masked squad and they enter the breached wall. He and YiTan find the remnants of his father and he gets the WangQuan sword. The group holds up their shield quite well in the beginning. Nobody knows of the hatred that has infiltrated YiTan’s third eye. I don’t even think he is aware of the depth of it. His hate cracks the shield and now they are all facing their darkness in illusions by black fox. She starts with ZhangZheng and QingMuYuan. He is given guilt about the real ZhangZheng. Since his mother has already tested him in a similar fashion, once he sees the sword charm he is saved from illusion. He sees Yuan enthralled and knows how to save her. What he cannot do is save himself from the fatal blow she has cast. As Qing Mu Yuan wakes, she uses her life force to cast a blow at black fox. I am very annoyed at the flippant response from black fox at their deaths. She says she wants them to team with her and then relishes their grief in illusions. She is like Yang in single mindedness. But what happens when she is on top of the death pile with nothing left to feed her hate and grief? She then turns to the brothers and undermines their love for each other. QuZhou now knows the sacrifice his brother made and injures himself. Now we know why he was crippled when he saw them in the future arc. ZiZai is still determined to guard his brother and has given him a life exchange talisman. The two brother unite their efforts to cause one last blow to black fox. The next battle has YiTan, QiYue and Zui fighting. YiTan’s eye has taken over and he tries to keep Zui in a dream if their future. When she breaks free, he forces her to watch QiYue fall. He had finished carving wooden weapons for his daughter when he came home a hero. Black fox mocked him as YiTan finished him. YiTan instinctively protected Zui but then thrust her through as episode ends..Zhai Xiao Wen is quite capable as a villain. I did not expect that.
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The masked knights get together for a night of celebration before starting the battle. HuaiZhu and HongYe plan to take on the battle themselves and leave their friends behind. Like warriors they meet the night with love and companionship with the understanding this might be their last night. Jin RenFeng is using this time with HuaiZhu away to make his first move. I think I now understand why QinLan and QuZhou are never a couple. The rest of the masked squad show up in formation to be with their leader. HongYe easily breaks through the talisman wall of that arrogant old man that has created such an evil force on the other side. I wonder if he would have not tried to bind JiaLan in if he truly knew the outcome, or would he have been like old Yang and done it anyway, vainly thinking he had the power to contain her indefinitely? He is both self righteous and trying to look out for them. HongYe finds the last portion of his father and gets the WangQuan sword. Nobody knows about the hatred that has infiltrated YiTan’s third eye. Even he may not realize the magnitude of it. Their shield held well for quite awhile but the hate from within has cracked their defenses. Now each will deal with their own darkness. HongYe got one blow in but it is obvious YiTan is foretelling his moves. HuaiZhu is waiting by grief tree for when the proper moment is to strike. The battle has begun in earnest.
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JiuHuo died heroically. This is the first time I really respected the strength of his character. I am somewhat surprised that black fox told him so plainly what her intentions were. She kept the cruel part of JiaLan that preserved things by killing them in their most beautiful moment. She was looking to make a fine demon core for Jin RenFeng to make a sword with. That forge really needs destroyed. I am not familiar with the written story but I hope there is an arc where this happens. She really is hellbent on eradicating love and light. She has found the most vile of the noble class to be her willing servants. JiuHuo wasn’t as evil as these. The humans are more than willing to condemn their own children.😝 I do not think HongYe was expecting JiuHuo to give him his blessing to kill black fox. What they have learned from Tush is that to have any hope of defeating her they will be on separate sides of the boundary. Ironically the boundary their elders forged to create her. JiaLan in all her cruelty would have been minimized had it been tempered with loving JiuHuo. They might have been able to find a place where celestial demons could live in peace away from the humans. But once that was interfered with, hatred became a new feeding source to create the black fox. And now that poor leech demon whose only mistake was loving a domineering man, got to feel the power of his domineering against her. The ultimate betrayal of both of these lovers, while killing off the one they used, will also result in their own ultimate downfalls. Collateral damage will be very high and the cost of beautiful souls to counter will be beyond measure to number. This story really does epitomize the shortsightedness of selfish ego and lust for power. Even the celestial demon recognized that immortality is nothing when the one you love is not there with you. That a demon understood love better than humans only exemplifies how far the nobles had willingly fallen. I am hoping this writer at some point finds a generation that is allowed to enjoy love and light and dares write a tale about them. Waiting so see what remnant is saved to make this story happen.
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It’s Gala day and everything is set except Deok-Chul. He is having a very bad memory day. He is in panic mode and wants to apologize to everyone. Char-rok’s mentor doesn’t want to risk it, but he is persuaded to let Deok-Chul try. There was a bit of a rough patch in one section but Chae-tok danced like in the park and Deok-Chul responded. The recital went well. Nemesis boy is playing soccer with old teammate and they are actually getting along/ Granddaughter finally found a job that makes her happy. Family is getting back on track and even though Deok-Chul was adamant about nursing home he opted to stay out long enough for Char-rok’s time to soar. He made it into the troupe and became top dancer in a year.😁 Deok-Chul is having misadventures but having more good days than bad. Mentor finally put a ring on it and married his dance partner. His life now has room for more than himself and he’s a much better person as a result. Oldest son is chilling out and less career driven. Youngest son is going back to hospital. He has found the value of time and knows he can help give that to patients. Wife has tracker down and ice cream to bribe Deok-Chul into coming home. He doesn’t remember Chae-Rok initially but his body remembers the ballet moves to respond in dance. This is a wonderful slice of life drama that is well worth your time to watch. This cast does a wonderful job presenting all the messy, clumsy and beautiful parts of family and life in general. The production staff did an excellent job of highlighting the dancers and helping us appreciate the beauty and wonder of ballet. This drama lets us see into the person dealing with memory loss and the struggle of caretakers wanting them to live freely but still within safe parameters. And how our lives are touched and improved by paying attention and appreciating the time we are given with friends and family.
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The family now knows and are rallying. Nobody can agree on caretaker or even knows what Deok-Chul wants, but they are all finally talking. Deok-Chul is at audition, but leaves to see first son. He reminds his son that he can go wherever he wants. The son’s company used him as fall guy for misappropriating funds. And after hearing what his dad had to say, he quit his job and stated he would be a whistleblower if asked. Chae-rok’s mentor suggests a duo routine for gala. Everybody is working hard and tickets have been given out. After rehearsal Deok-Chul has an episode where he can’t find his way home. Worse yet, on the morning of gala he doesn’t know who his wife is.😭 After coach apologized to nemesis boy, Chae-Rok used money his dad gave him to buy uniform items for soccer player. He included a ticket for gala. Now to see if they get to perform.
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Deok-Chul is deteriorating and it is too much pressure for Chae-Rok. He finally tells Mr. Sim to give up. However, the ‘old geezer’ is not ready to toss in the towel and keeps practicing on his own. I had to laugh that the 70 yr old is in much better shape than the 40 yr old. 😂 I want to sympathize with him more for not telling his family, but I find myself mostly pissed off. His ego is causing fear and grief all around him and danger to himself. I liked the chat nemesis had with old coach. He is getting affirmation from many sources that he is truly capable if he will only apply himself to try. Deok-chul’s lunch with him to continue the support I also appreciated. I see them working out in the park sometime. Deok-chul’s dance in the park was as moving as Chae-rok’s. I didn’t expect that. It brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t realize the sis was talking about children. With her sadness it must have been a concerted effort for quite awhile. I still think she is already being a parent to that man boy she married. I was angry that Deok-Chul did not let his family know where he was on purpose. And I was happy for the family that Chae-Rok had the insight to put a tracker on his phone. The oldest boy surprised me. He seemed the most self-centered of the lot but he was first in line to find dad and just give him a hug. The biggest surprise was wife finding out along with son when Chae-Rok told him. This family…..communication is not their forte. I think that will be changing soon. And it looks like two auditions are in the works for teacher and student.😁
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Qing Mu Yuan and Zhang Zheng’s story is very sweet🥰 These two have good chemistry and they are very believable as a couple. The depth of their commitment to each other is made clear. I hope we get to see more of them before fate takes a different turn. To hear black fox talk now. I did not sense any love in her for QiuHuo. She is more pouting that things aren’t going as planned. But back when he was first captured by beast king, there it seemed a lot different. She still seemed far more a powerhouse than he did. Maybe it is because she had no remorse for taking life. She felt it her due. But I did not see her want to just lay waste to everything in general until she had been trapped beyond the barrier. The beast king and talisman spellcaster seemed more vile than she and JiuHuo were. They were not trapping them to remove evil from the world…they wanted her core to enslave demon kind and rule the world. I don’t see where they were any different from her in being singleminded and uncaring about everything except their goals for power. They were as despicable as the Nangong demon core hunters and maybe even worse.😝
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Chae-Rok has finally confided in youngest son. This is a grey area about what info is ok to tell when not your story. But in this case, somebody from family really needed to know and Deok-Chul was being too damn stubborn to tell them. The way his wife hovers I kinda understand and his first two are well….we have seen. But he should have told his youngest who has the most level head and least combative temperament. So now the two are trying to make a documentary of Deok-Chul learning ballet. They are both hoping this will help both him and family remember. This is a worthwhile project. This will keep the son at home and closer to family and not have any regrets where his father is concerned. He will also be the best one to determine when everybody needs in the loop. Chae-rok’s father came to visit. His friend had to mention the nemesis is what caused Chae-rok’s I jury. I know why he told but he didn’t have the complete story. When the dad and nemesis meet, I still hope things go peacefully. There is a lat of grief between them that needs to be put to rest. The dad was very surprised when Chae-Rok mentioned the bath house. It was an unexpected sweet moment. He now has hope and the bridge to communication has been started in a positive way. I am glad Chae-Rok asked his father to spend the night to have more time with them. They are both still hurting over the loss of wife/mother and this will let further healing get started. On audition day Deok-Chul had a bad day with memory. He was hid in bathroom stall not knowing what he should do. I hope he continues to try and that he gets that one recital in before his memory leaves. This story is both hopeful and tragic. But the impact Mr. Sim has brought to those around him is a truly wonderful story.
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This episode was so powerful and moving. Chae-Rok is in such a difficult spot. He knows Deok-Chul,has Alzheimer’s, but he is not free to let the family know. He has connected the dots and sees the progression of memory loss. So he is following him everywhere to be sure he is ok. His friend had the right idea to just be supportive and let DeokChul call the shots, but at the same time Chae-Rok knows he now needs help. The nemesis is t the complete jerk he made himself into. Under different circumstances, they might have even been friends. He again looks in a bad light but in spite of their clumsy efforts I really think the boys were trying to help him. But in the process of trying to assist they were scaring the crap out of the old man. Chae-Rok show up and the others leave him alone. He read how dancing helped him remember, so he dances his heart out to walk Deok-Chul up. It was so beautiful and moving and heartfelt. And it worked. His nemesis also u de retold and was awed and terrified at what he was seeing. It is such a precarious thing to know one you care about is losing their memory of you. It is an exhausting process to keep them safe and to spend all lucid moments possible with them. The side arc with the daughter is rather sad. When the fortune teller told her she would at least have a son, she never realized that her husband was the son. She has given all her youth to mother the man she married. He was never a true partner and always her child, she just didn’t see it that way. It is no wonder she is tired and ready to give up. Her mother understands and is trying to make up with the man who will be totally lost without her daughter’s guidance. The granddaughter still needs to find the right job because when her interest isn’t there she makes mistakes that makes her look incompetent. It is really more a case of not caring about it enough to really invest all her effort into it. She wants an easy out while she is looking and there really aren’t any shortcuts to hard work and time. I was not expecting the bath scene to be so poignant. It is not a custom I am familiar with but that chat gave Chae-Rok true hope for his future relationship with his dad. That was unexpected and well timed. Chae-rok’s mentor is slowly but surely becoming a more caring person. The youngest son keeps in touch with a work colleague at the hospital. He has not been successful in his initial idea for documentary. He is trying to make peace with a case where he lost a patient. He wants to pay tribute to their life prior to death in hospital. He is accepting that he might not be able to do that, but I think he is going to find a new direction very soon.
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Chae-Rok fights the urge to overdue and determines to go to rehab and heal before competing. He vows to himself to learn from his mentor’s mistake and be wise about taking care of his body. He and Deok-Chul share a nice moment when the elder describes a lengthy healing he went through to regain use of his leg. This gave Chae-Rok food for thought to weigh the difference in waiting to heal and not. Deok-Chul and his mentor were striking differences in the repercussions of having patience and not. Deok-Chul has some asinine neighbors who thinks it’s funny to tease him about the silliness of his dancing. It is bad enough from them but that even his daughter agrees just shows how ignorant even family can be. She and oldest are the worst in attitude. When she makes continual excuses for her loser husband, whom she loves enough to put up with——I just don’t get her not having the same compassion for her dad. This may be a result of mom’s hovering and overriding ways, but surely some common sense is in there somewhere😝 This has Deok-Chul questioning if he should even try to dance. I am glad Chae-rok’s mentor has stopped being an arrogant ass and wising up on how to actually be useful. He may yet find life in dance worthwhile as a teacher. Deok-Chul finally gets to perform before the class. The special dances of him and lady in wheelchair were especially beautiful. The appreciation of ballet without the snobbery of perfect technique is a needed lesson and reminder for mentor. He has begrudged the world his talent once he could no longer perform and thanks to his friend and Chae-Rok, he may find joy through his students. Deok-Chul left behind his little notebook he is always writing in. Chae-Rok starts reading and finds out what we already knew——Deok-Chul has Alzheimer’s.
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Chae-Rok has his cast off and is determined to stay in competition. Here is where we learn what happened to his mentor and how he went from dancer to teacher. Chae-Rok was performing well but once his mentor learned he was taking pain pills he sent him home to rest. Chae-Rok ignored him and went to the school to practice with his rival instead. Fortunately the student knew something was wrong and called his teacher to check. She told Chae-rok’s mentor and he confronted him at the school. He took him to theater and sat in suddenness. Then he quizzed Chae-Rok about which he preferred- stage or seat. He gave his student some serious things to consider. Deok-Chul was heading for dance rehearsal when his wife chided him for forgetting their anniversary. There have been hints the last couple episodes that Deok-Chul has been forgetting things. After a nice meal they visit the aquarium and Deok-Chul was supposed to get some snacks. He left his phone with his wife because she burnt out charge sending pics.😝 He is distracted by a lost child and ends up getting lost himself. She can’t call or locate him because she has both phones so wife starts panic calling the kids. They all ignore her cause she usually chats a lot about nothing so she only gets a response from Chae-Rok. The older couple got a lot sweeter when wife started paying attention. But now that she finally sees and hears him…his memory is leaving. Chae-Rok finally had something to brag to his dad about and must decide to rest and heal or continue to grit out competition. And youngest son is trying to find friends and family of patient who died for his documentary.
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