Despite the current climate, the Moon Tribe is still open for trading. In this episode, we get to know another character that we thought wasn’t very important: Jieli, a shop owner Orchid usually visited when she still worked at the Archive.
Jieli sells all kinds of things — potions, artifacts, jewelry, some less legal than others. At the entrance to the Moon City, she uses one of those special things to cast magic to confuse the guards and get through, all the way to the Moon Palace to see Orchid.
But nothing gets past Devy. He captures Jieli and uses her to negotiate with Orchid since the latter is still reluctant about fixing the Destiny Book.
Devy orders Jieli to be locked up. On the way to jail, however, Jieli successfully makes Shangque talk. Shangque is great but he is not exactly the smartest guy in the world. He entertains Jieli’s provocation and almost spills the beans about Orchid and Devy.
Actually, no, I take that back. He doesn’t know at all if there are any beans to spill. But he does slip out his observations of Orchid and Devy; he believes they are good friends. No harm done, though. In the end, Orchid comes to Jieli’s rescue and requests that Jieli stay in her room.
It turns out that Jieli is smarter than the entire lot of them combined. She can tell that Devy’s spiteful behavior towards Orchid is a sign that he just needs a long hug. So Jieli advises Orchid that the best way to make peace with Devy is through his heart.
Whatever Orchid and Jieli plan behind Devy’s back, we don’t know. But they ultimately come up with a flirting act, hoping it’ll soften Devy up somehow. It is one hilarious scene.
It’s pretty effective in confusing Devy, it seems. He is not as sharp as he lets on. And the truth is, he is currently a little dejected about his bratty younger brother. But Devy refuses to admit that he needs help; instead, he tells Orchid the full story about how his ability to feel got purged out of him a long time ago by his father. He’s proud of it too, the reason being: emotions make you a wimp. Not having emotions is easier when you need to make a decision, or so he says.
Mmmmmm… you might want to rethink that. The most important military decisions are made based on the understanding of your enemy’s character among other things. By shutting down your ability to learn from emotions and grow up from them, you remain a child with a limited perception forever, ignorant and easily manipulated.
I mean… It’s fine if you’re a reckless noob and get talked into taking this route, but how could an ancient warrior like Devy’s father think this was a good idea?
On the other hand, assuming that you are already the biggest and strongest man out there who can beat everyone else, what hard “decisions” do you need to make, exactly, besides whom you want to beat up first?
This logic that Devy and his father used to cut off feelings is more questionable than the Heaven Lord’s melting crown.
Anyway, Orchid thinks she should do something about it after hearing the story, so another plan she makes. She gets some magic candies/pills from Jieli that can amplify her emotions. This way — she reasons — Devy will be forced to experience emotions through her.
Unlucky for them, Devy is in a serious meeting with his advisors at the time. As Orchid eats the candies one by one and recalls her recent memories, Devy is made to follow her feelings. He laughs out loud and bursts into tears randomly while his advisors are trying to get a report through. Those poor guys once again look at each other in hopelessness.
Even Shangque doesn’t know what to do now. Devy’s face might not have the scary side of a warrior, but he definitely nails the humor part.
In the end, Devy tells them all to get lost and has Jieli dragged into the hall along with Orchid. He gives them a final warning.
In the Heaven Realm, Changheng decides to break out of his brother’s seal and make another try for Orchid. Ronghao helps him, of course, since this would get him exactly what he needs for his sleeping “Shifu”.