Recaps

Zhuang Cheng sheltered Maza, investigated an impossible cave, and became trapped in a void before escaping. After leaving the cave, he faced a goat-headed demon that recognized his flame ability and attacked him.

• Zhuang Cheng found Maza at an abandoned construction site, brought her home, and learned that she had come from a future devastated by monsters.
• Zhuang Cheng and Chang'an discovered a blood-marked ritual circle and a staircase beneath Chang'an’s apartment, but the cave vanished when police arrived.
• Zhuang Cheng monitored Agent Kong and learned that the Demon Hunters were investigating the cave and searching for Maza.
• Zhuang Cheng entered the cave, found a black jade fragment, and was drawn into a gray-mist realm before discovering that the stairs and exit had disappeared.
• Zhuang Cheng used his fire power to explore the void beyond the basement, resolved to escape, and eventually restored the cave’s entrance by drawing the carpet’s pattern in flames.
• Zhu Shi and Agent Kong discussed Maza, the cave, the Great Tribulation prophecy, and a Fallen Demon Hunter whose power overwhelmed an unfamiliar opponent.
• Zhuang Cheng emerged from the cave, lost his Firefly surveillance, and encountered a goat-headed demon that said it had come to kill him.
• Zhuang Cheng ignited the demon with his flames, and when it fled into a river, he sensed that the fire continued burning it wherever it went.

Zhuang Cheng joined forces with Zhu Shi as he uncovered Luoshan’s search for Maza and faced the Fallen Demon Hunter, Agent Kong. After defeating Kong, Zhuang Cheng agreed to conceal his power while observing Luoshan’s factions, and distanced himself from Chang'an to protect him from supernatural dangers.

• Zhuang Cheng met Zhu Shi after she knocked the demon unconscious, then explained his powers and his investigation of the cave while she questioned him about the Fallen Demon Hunter.
• Zhuang Cheng chose to keep Maza in his life, and Zhu Shi warned him not to investigate the cave while Luoshan examined the ritual array.
• Agent Kong told Zhuang Cheng about Maza’s awakening and Luoshan’s nationwide search, then took him to the construction site where they had first encountered her.
• Kong Da revealed himself as the Fallen Demon Hunter and killed Zhuang Cheng, recalling how an Impermanence had once rescued him from a haunted alley and how Monster Maker had given him the Seed of the Heart.
• Kong Da tested Zhuang Cheng at the construction site, but Zhuang Cheng survived decapitation, pursued him into the Shadow World, and defeated him with flames that consumed his body and Seed of the Heart.
• Zhu Shi confirmed Kong Da was the real Fallen Demon Hunter, identified Zhuang Cheng’s flame transformation as Elementalization, and explained the immense power and political divisions among Luoshan’s Great Wuchang.
• Zhuang Cheng agreed to hide his strength and observe Luoshan’s factions, while Zhu Shi offered to seek his recognition as an Outer Path Wuchang.
• Zhuang Cheng met Chang'an at a fried-chicken shop, lied that the cave had cursed him, and asked Chang'an to stop keeping in touch for a while.