Konghou sells fake antiques and meets the real Zhongxi. To save him from a lecherous elder, she flees with him. They discover their touch can share spiritual energy. Zhongxi punishes the elder but warns Konghou against shortcuts. She later ventures into the forbidden forest alone, is attacked by the evil cultivator Jiusu, and Zhongxi arrives to rescue her, sealing the forest.

Zhongxi kills Jiusu but falls into a coma. Konghou heals him with her spiritual power, causing her own cultivation to surge unexpectedly. After forming her foundation, she is falsely accused of using banned pills. She exposes Qingyuan as the real culprit and is permitted to leave the sect for training. Before departing, she chooses a phoenix-headed konghou as her life-bound instrument but cannot play it.

Zhongxi's condition worsens, and he suspects Konghou is the key to his recovery. He sends Linhu to Yunhua Sect but is blocked by Wangtong. The two reunite in Yuancheng and seek a healer. Huangqi diagnoses Zhongxi's shattered spiritual platform and reveals they share a rare "merged qi" bond. Zhongxi refuses Konghou's help, and they part in discord.

They stay ten days at Huangqi's place, growing closer. Huangqi prescribes rare herbs. After parting, Konghou accidentally meets Zhongxi in Qiucheng but cannot contact him due to a broken talisman. They stay at the same inn yet miss each other. Driven mad by a divine bird's cries, Konghou opens her window and finds Zhongxi right across.

To help Zhongxi obtain a divine bird's tail feather, Konghou is tricked into freeing it. Zhongxi recaptures it, and Lingbo gives them one feather. The evil cultivator Wubei infiltrates. Konghou inhales poison saving Zhongxi; he sucks it out mouth-to-mouth. Their first kiss leaves both embarrassed yet stirred. The assassin is silenced, revealing the enemy's cruelty.

Zhongxi invites Konghou to travel together for medicine. They are ambushed by fake cultists, and Zhou Xiao of Yuanji Sect "coincidentally" saves them. Invited to Yuanji Sect, they don't realize it's a trap Sect Master Shuangqing plans to marry Zhou Xiao to Konghou and send Jinling after Zhongxi. Zhongxi grows displeased watching Zhou Xiao court Konghou.

Shuangqing traps Konghou with Zhou Xiao overnight and forces a wedding. Konghou is dressed as a bride, but Jinling helps her escape and takes her place. Fleeing through a flower field, Konghou is attacked by strange vines and rescued by Zhongxi. She feigns agreement to stall. Jinling is ambushed investigating the field; many disciples bear marks of heart-blood extraction.

They discover Jiusu possesses Zhang Feng, using Shuangqing to drain disciples' spiritual power via vines to rebuild his body. In battle, blue flames erupt from Konghou, burning the vines. Jiusu's soul escapes. Shuangqing loses his son. Zhongxi's wounds worsen; as Konghou heals him, a phoenix mark appears on her neck. Jiusu orders a search for an "awakened spiritual root." Lingbo deduces Yicheng is the next target.

They head to Yicheng to meet musician Jiaotong. Zhongxi enters a talent contest to protect Konghou but ruins his performance on her advice. Madam Chen trades a meeting token for half a day with Zhongxi, then dies peacefully. Konghou gets the token and prepares to meet Jiaotong while also discovering Zhongxi is her favorite novelist, "Miaobike."

Jiaotong tries to harm Konghou, who cleverly escapes. Zhongxi rescues her. Linhu discovers Jiaotong is an old fox demon acquaintance; after inner turmoil, he lets him go. Zhongxi fakes a minor injury to seek Konghou's care, drawing them closer. Linhu confesses he's a demon cultivator; Konghou doesn't mind. Hehuan Sect throws an apology banquet actually a trap set with evil cultivators.

The three fall into a trap. Wubei tries to probe Konghou's seal. Huanzong breaks free and saves her. Linhu fights Jiaotong, who dies by suicide. Konghou's power erupts twice, driving Wubei away. Afterwards, she finds a mysterious egg. For her birthday, Huanzong conjures wish flowers; she wishes for his cure. The egg hatches Cangyu'er the very medicine he needs.

They arrive in Fengcheng seeking Xunyunzhi. Konghou runs into her disguised senior brother Tanfeng. To help him plant tracking talismans, she organizes a city-wide chicken giveaway sparking a beggar brawl. To stop the chaos, she stages a "star-crossed lovers' suicide" with Zhongxi, who kisses her for real. Afterwards, their relationship turns awkward, leaving both sleepless.

They track down evil cultivator Wuxi and uncover the secret of "Puppet Village" intruders are consumed by nightmare illusions. Saving Konghou, Zhongxi falls off a cliff into the illusion, reliving his mother's murder by his father. Konghou, the only one without inner demons, decides to cross the Agony River to rescue him. Despite his fears, Tanfeng gives her a concealing pill.

Konghou braves the Agony River and enters the palace illusion. She finds Huanzong, now the amnesiac "Second Prince," who sees her as a spy. He feigns intimacy to test her while remaining wary. Konghou discovers wounds in the illusion reflect reality, strengthening her resolve. She proves herself with private details; Huanzong spares her and keeps her close under surveillance.

Konghou tries recreating their past to jog Huanzong's memory, but he mistakes her for a clumsy assassin and banishes her to the stables. There, she wins the young prince's trust. When his horse bolts, she shields him both fall unconscious. Enraged, Huanzong imprisons and whips her. The prince wakes and clears her name; evidence proves her innocence. Huanzong is overwhelmed with guilt.

Huanzong whips himself thirty times to apologize; Konghou forgives him. Their relationship warms. Huanzong plots revenge with his late brother's loyalists. Flying kites with the prince, the child innocently suggests "big brother marry sister," stirring awkward feelings. Consort Qi frames the prince. Huanzong takes him to the temple for safety. The emperor orders their deaths; the prince is shot, dying in Huanzong's arms.