Love Game in Eastern Fantasy- Mini Recap Episodes 21-24

Episode 21:

Fourteen years ago, Consort Zhao Qin Ru entrusts Tao Ying with a dark wish—to make her son the crown prince, but at a chilling cost: sacrificing her daughter, Li Song Min. The spell she relies on condemns her daughter to a life of empty desires and sorrow.

Fast forward to the present: the trap is set, and Zhao Qin Ru is drawn to the Celebrating Benevolence Hall, attempting to halt her daughter’s wedding. As the team makes their strategic moves, it’s revealed that the mysterious Meridian Life Absorbing Spell isn’t powered by the Lady Resentment as Mu Yao suspected. Instead, it's a Level 4 Nightmare Demon, a formidable force with its own twisted dreams of invincibility. But thanks to our team's clever disguise and impeccable timing, the demon’s delusion is shattered—everyone in attendance is fake, and only the core cast remains.

In a twisted turn, everyone is transported into Zhao Qin Ru’s nightmare, a showcase of her darkest secrets:

1. Qilin Mountain - Nearly two decades ago, Zhao Qin Ru orchestrated a massacre of all demons, flattening the mountain to eradicate them.

2. Death of Zhao Qing Huan - A loyal sibling to Zhao Qin Ru, who always obeyed her commands, even unto death.

3. Celebrating Benevolence Hall - Fourteen years ago, Zhao Qin Ru horrifically burned Pei Yu alive.

Tao Ying’s spirit, driven by vengeance, haunts the daemon. His daughter died due to Zhao Qin Ru’s actions, and he once sought her life in return. Although he passed ten years ago, the echoes of his fury and pain live on, seeking retribution.

When faced with these crimes, Zhao Qin Ru would rather die than confess. But in a shock twist, her daughter bravely takes the fall for her. Only when pressed by her daughter’s sacrifice does Zhao Qin Ru finally admit her guilt, revealing that she shattered her brother’s (Zi Qi’s father) romance with a daemon to preserve her own reputation and ambitions for her son. Her facade of benevolence unravels, exposing a heartless thirst for power.

The Final Reveal: Li Song Min, disguised as Miao Miao, steps forward, shedding her cover as Yu Shu Xin. And if that weren’t enough drama, Zhao Ruo Shi turns out to be… Zi Qi! Now the puzzle pieces fall into place—their mimicry is masterful, hinting at the lengths they would go to stand for justice over family loyalty.

Episode 22:

If the Nightmare Demon can't have his way, he’ll make sure nobody wins. His last-ditch move? He activates the Meridian Life Absorbing Spell, ready to engulf everyone and the entire city. He taunts Mu Yao, claiming her father’s failed attempt to kill him 14 years ago led to today’s chaos. But Mu Yao stands her ground, defending her father’s honor, as the demon laughs, reminding her he’s only a Level 4 Nightmare Demon—not the Lady Resentment she believed.

With escape now out of the question, the team sticks together, resolute. Mu Yao, with fierce determination, steps up to delay the impending explosion. Liu Fu Yi and Zi Qi rally to support her while Miao Miao, quick on her feet, gathers the palace’s daemon hunters for reinforcements. Amid the chaos, even the “cowardly” Guo Xiu steps up with an unexpected moment of bravery. Go figure, right?

Just when it looks like all hope is lost, Miao Miao pulls off a literal power move. She unlocks God-level powersthrough the System and activates the 7-petal-lotus. No time for an instruction manual—she goes full throttle, unleashing the power from her “mighty forehead” (who knew it could save the day?!). The city is saved, for now.

The palace ministers, in awe, are convinced Miao Miao is the Godly Protector, destined to guard the legacy of Mu Qian Shi from 900 years ago. But plot twist! Despite all the grand buildup, it turns out only Zi Qi can activate the sacred weapon. If the lotus symbol signifies godly powers, it makes sense—Zi Qi has it on his forehead in his daemon form. As the whole court kowtows, even Miao Miao’s knees buckle (an iconic moment reminiscent of Yu Shu Xin's roles).

Pei Yun leaves the palace—finally free of the stifling royal hair, revealing a much softer, prettier look. In a flashback, we learn she chose to save Li Song Min over seeking revenge for her sister. She even begged the team (Zi Qi, Miao Miao, and jiefu) to save the princess, which secretly set them on Mu Yao’s trail.

Oh, and check this out! Zi Qi is “invisible” on the cover poster, a clever nod to how the ministers refuse to leave him alone. But when he pulls Miao Miao close, one can’t help but wonder: did he just trick her into clinging to him to keep up the invisibility… or maybe she just wanted to stay close? 😏

Miao Miao knows Zi Qi’s demon form is taboo, but she encourages him to share his truth with Mu Yao. He assures her she can always be honest with him—he’ll never hold it against her. For so long, his jie was the only person who truly mattered. But what about now? Cue collective deep breaths! Go on, Zi Qi… Nope. Chickens out at the last second, leaving all of us exasperated.

When Miao Miao finally starts to open up, it’s half-baked at best. She teases Zi Qi, saying she’s not Lin Yu, then claims it’s just a joke. Zi Qi just replies knowingly, “You’re Miao Miao.” But does he really get it?

Later, in her drunken “dream,” she sees a panda but doesn’t recognize it. It’s the side effect of the 7-petal lotus—she’s forgetting the game’s reality. In the morning, Zi Qi teases her about being a “scary drunk,” and Mu Yao even confirms it, making Miao Miao blush. When she grabs the letter back from him, it’s already on its way to her father! Zi Qi swoops in for a heartwarming hug.

And when Zi Qi snuggles her even closer, he’s got the perfect excuse—she drank too much last night, and he’s just looking out for her, bringing her out into the sunlight. Cue romantic sighs everywhere.

Episode 23:

Zhao Qin Ru, now confined to the cold palace, reveals her darkest secrets to Mu Yao, spilling that it was her own father’s idea to use Pei Yu as a replacement, then burn everyone involved to cover their tracks. Zhao Qin Ru’s chilling accusation haunts Mu Yao as she wonders if her father knew about this ruthless decision all along. As her words echo in Mu Yao’s mind, she’s reminded of the painful truth: “Parents always try to show their best face to their children.”

Meanwhile, the ministers pressure Zi Qi to stay in the capital, citing yet another ominous prophecy—a doom set to strike in three years. Zi Qi’s gaze narrows at Guo Xiu, silently demanding he help. In his classic style, Guo Xiu quips one sentence, magically diverting the ministers’ attention and paving the way for Zi Qi’s departure. His mission? Seek out the mysterious Wen Xin, also known as “Ask the Heart.” But, as it turns out, this "weirdo" is actually Liu Fu Yi’s enigmatic shifu. It seems this teacher might hold the key to more than just Zi Qi’s mission—maybe even secrets about Mu Yao’s father.

As the team prepares to leave, Zi Qi meticulously packs all of Miao Miao’s favorite things, from her pillow to a trusty steel wok—though poor Cui Cui ends up lugging that heavy thing around. Zhao Ruo Shi, who’s just discovered that Zi Qi is his half-brother, can’t hide his envy. Zi Qi lives a life of freedom with the one he loves, a dream their father never achieved. In a bittersweet moment, Zhao Ruo Shi returns a bangle he believes belonged to Zi Qi’s mother, and they share an innocent “what if?” moment before they part.

And in a surprising twist, Miao Miao’s memories have been altered due to the mysterious lotus power she now wields. She’s forgotten she’s in a game, and Zi Qi, sensing something is amiss, watches her closely. With her new abilities, Miao Miao can summon her powers without any talismans—a revelation that changes everything.

Before they meet Wen Xin, Liu Fu Yi discreetly seals Zi Qi’s hand to conceal his demon identity. When it’s finally time for Zi Qi’s “shadow” to be revealed during the Shadow security check, an unexpected twist leaves everyone stunned. But, of course, the truth has a habit of surfacing, and this journey seems far from over.

Episode 24: 

This is not what it looks like! Mu Yao just intercepted a sword that Wen Xin had aimed at Zi Qi and threw it right back at him. She may be stern, but she won’t let anyone, especially an outsider, hurl insults or attacks at her didi! So what if her didi happens to be a daemon? That doesn't change the fact that he’s her little brother—and he’s never hurt anyone!

And no, this next moment doesn’t look like what you might think either. Wen Xin once again strikes at Zi Qi, sending him back to reveal the “shadow of his heart,” which takes the form of a lotus. If not for the meddling influence of Liu Fu Yi, this would have been Zi Qi’s original shadow. It’s almost as if Wen Xin was testing Mu Yao to see if her old prejudices still linger. A little bit petty, wouldn’t you say?

As everyone rallies to help Zi Qi make up with Mu Yao, it’s clear her only interest is talking directly to her didi. This is the didi she’s spent ten years protecting, all the while hiding the truth from him. But it turns out the friends he’s made in just a few days know him in a way she never realized. Mu Yao finally understands that Zi Qi wasn’t hiding because he didn’t like people—he hid because he was afraid of being truly seen. Knowing this, how could she possibly be mad at him?

Meanwhile, Cui Cui’s anxiety levels hit maximum overload. Being around too many daemons triggers his social (or maybe stranger?) anxiety. But in his desperation, he stumbles upon his long-lost grandfather, Elder Zhu Qing Qing—a bamboo elder with Alzheimer’s, no less! They’re quite the pair, the bamboo grandpa and grandson duo, both a bit lost but endearing in their own way.

By the way, the world’s end isn’t as far off as everyone thought. Turns out it’s just three months away, not three years! The ancient Grandpa Bamboo has lived through one apocalypse already, and he has memories of the last savior, Mu Qian Shi—who looks suspiciously like Miao Miao! With a redefined family tree and a prophecy looming, Wen Xin warns that only one protector emerges per era. Will it be Miao Miao with her lotus powers, or Zi Qi with his spear? Zi Qi’s rebellious streak is in full force, and it takes Miao Miao practically ordering him to listen to Wen Xin before he begrudgingly complies.

What goes around, comes around! Zi Qi, who once played the role of a strict shifu, now finds himself on the receiving end of payback. In a wild twist, he’s suddenly strong enough to best Wen Xin! Zi Qi’s not done yet, though; he’d love nothing more than to send Wen Xin straight to the Shadow Security Check to see what’s truly hiding in his heart. What secrets could this “Ask the Heart” sage be concealing?

DramaZen's Opinion

Consort Zhao Qin Ru has to be one of the most selfish characters, even when her own daughter and nephew were going to lose their lives, she was still trying to deny her crimes. It took the Bamboo Four sso much effort to get her to admit she was wrong...Geez!!! 😩

It was nice to finally get some of the back story behind Zi Qi's father and mother. I wasn't expecting that little Zi Qi had attempted to kill his father and stabbed him. I can understand why he did it though after watching his mother mourn the lose of his father's love day-after-day. Such a sad story! 😢

I wasn't expecting Miao Miao to be able to gain secret super lotus powers from the system, but they never did specify what the consequences were of her using the power. Then we find out later she has altered memories and has forgotten she is in the game. Which Zi Qi, who is always watching her, notices something is definitely off. 

However, I wasn't surprised to see that Zi Qi was able to remove the weapon out of the stone. It was kind of obvious he is the key character that holds the story together. 

I am glad that both couples are finally acknowleding their feeling for each other. Zi Qi reading Miao Miao's note to her father was absolutely cute. Meanwhile, Mu Yao is finally expressing that she too reciprocates Fu Yi's feelings. I need some kiss scenes!!! 

It's scary that the world's end is only 3 months away, according to Grandpa Bamboowho has seen the apocalypse already. 😧 How will our heros end up saving the world is the true question?

Overall, the last four episodes hae been fun to watch as we discover more of the story and get to see our main characters find theirselves along with love too. I'm loving all their interactions with each other. My fave, of course it's Cui Cui! He is just too adorable for words...🥰