1. Teasing his friends again

In the previous episode, Nai goaded his friends to duel each other. They wanted to battle against Naihe and Luwei Weiwei but since it’s a “couple” duel, Friend #1 and Friend #2 must duke it out to find out who was going to be the female avatar.

But they end up killing each other. lol.

Weiwei is impressed that Nai can kill them without even spilling blood.

An aside: Everything that Naihe does in this episode impresses Weiwei. This is just one example; there’s more to follow.

The couple sets off for their last mission Couple Quest. His friends admit that, even for them, this last mission is too extreme. But Nai corrects them and says that they missed the point.

They can’t play the game because they’ll need a spouse first. Good point!  Weiwei snorts beside him.

And like a couple, Naihe and Luwei Weiwei arrive at the scene of the battle holding hands. lol.

2. The Condor Heroes couple game

This game is deceiving because there’s lot of sentimental quips about love in the beginning but the test is about separating the lovers. For instance, they’re greeted by an NPC saying, “What a compatible online couple! (and Naihe glances at Weiwei). Your love and courage have helped you overcome various obstacles and reach here.”

Gag!!

They accept this last and most difficult challenge. It’s translated as “Yearning Formation” on Netflix and “Parting Tactics” on kissasian. I think kissasian’s version is apt because as soon as they accept the mission, they’re separated.

Weiwei is immediately thrown down into a dark place and Naihe needs to find her within 16 hours. She panics because she can’t even find herself on the map.

Then Naihe messages her.

NH: Weiwei
WW: Naihe? We can still chat?
NH: Mmm. I was just informed hat my quest is to find you in 16 hours. How are your surroundings?
WW: My surroundings are very dark, very dark.

lol. For the first time ever in the game, she sounds girly and scared.

NH: You can’t see anything?
WW: No.
NH: What about sound?
WW: I seem to hear water. (she regains her composure)
NH: Mmm. I see.

He starts focusing on finding her. I like it that he doesn’t lose his cool and just gets down to business.

WW: Naihe.
NH: What’s up?
WW: It’s so sick! I checked the official website for this quest. It doesn’t offer a player’s guide. Not only that, there’s only a one-line description for this level.
NH: What is it?
WW: Rely on unspoken understanding between lovers to pass this level. What the heck is that?!

She facepalms herself at the lame, romantic, totally useless hint.

and Nai just smiles.

The game tries to amp up the romance with these cliched lines: “Your love and courage have helped you overcome various obstacles and reach here,” and “Rely on unspoken understanding between lovers to pass this level.” But it actually TESTS the couple’s commitment to stay together… or at least Nai’s commitment.

Nai plays Go (or baduk) against an NPC who gives not only clues on how to accomplish the mission but also a pendant to give his missing assistant.

Nai then crosses an abyss and goes to the Parting Tactics obstacle guarded by dragons. He handily destroys the dragon and the game narrates, “All love is destined by fate, fleeting and ephemeral. Worry springs forth from love. Fear springs forth from love. Freedom from love is freedom from worry and fear.”

This is the reason the quest is called “Parting Tactics.” It aims to separate the couple by sowing doubt in the male. That’s the real test of the quest. The game tells Nai, “If you want to save your lover, you must pass my test. Are you willing to sacrifice everything you have in order to rescue your lover?”

The game warns that if he fails, then he loses all his game progress and he’ll restart the whole game from Level 0. (whoops! It’s a lot worse than just losing two levels!)

But Nai doesn’t hesitate to click on it and immediately prepares for the duel. Even when the NPC gives him one final chance to escape the fight, he ignores it and fights. The NPC stops the battle when he spots the pendant dangling from his waist.

Then, in return for the pendant, the NPC tells Naihe his wife’s location, and presents him with two lovebirds “Happy Couple” as parting gift.

“May destiny bring the lovers together.”

When the birds bring him to Weiwei, she fangirls him again. She thinks he looks like an angel.  She’s falling in love with him at this point.

But can you blame her? He successfully finds her and coolly apologizes for keeping her waiting?

Note to myself: he calls her wife. 

She comments that the birds looked a litte fat *fat-shaming!) and one of chubby birds moves as if to peck her. Nai quickly steps in front of her to protect her.

I wouldn’t be surprised even these fat birds have fallen in love with Naihe themselves and are jealous of Weiwei.

3. Fangirling the husband

WW: How did you find me?
XN: There were clues, actually.
WW: Is Parting Tactics actually the legendary Qi Men’s Five Elements Scheme?

XN: It’s not that deep. Before I started, an NPC gave me directions. About 2,000 words of clues in ten seconds.
WW: You memorized those clues in ten seconds? You’re inhuman! Nobody can read that fast!
XN: I screen-shot it.

WW: Ohhh. That’s right! You can screen-grab! Only a dummy would try to memorize it. I’m so silly. Why didn’t I think of that?! But you’re incredible for thinking on your feet to decide to screen-grab in no time.

She’s chatty. He asks her about quitting her clan and she tells him the reason. She’s been falsely accused of “kill-stealing” by one of the Three Witches, sisters-in-law of her Ex Shengshui.

I googled what kill-stealing is. It’s snatching the victory from a gamer who’s put in the time and labor to kill a monster. The hardworking gamer earns less experience points and the latecomer steals the reward for actually killing the monster. It’s basically poaching. For her clan leader to accuse her kill-stealing is an insult considering that at the start of Episode 1 she’s shown generously giving up her reward to another clan member.

4. “Marital status is important.”

The Netflix subs here don’t make sense so I’m using the kissasian version instead.

XN: That’s good. From now on, we’ll be together.

WW: We’ll brave this world together, like a pair of wild mandarin ducks rogue pair.

XN: A rogue pair? I remember we were formally married.

WW: You have no sense of humor.
XN: Marital status is important.

I think he’s pointing out that they’re not exactly a pair of wild outlaws because their marriage was grand affair and well-attended. They didn’t marry quickly, haphazardly, without preparation.

Offline, Weiwei is grinning at the screen. She admits, “Fine, Naihe does have a sense of humor. He’s just lame.”

5. Falling in love

Then as their avatars fly over the town, Weiwei continues to moon offline, “It’s scenery that I’m used to seeing but even if I see it every day, it would still probably feel different, just like it feels new right now. The name’s changed?”

I think this demonstrates her state of mind. She’s beginning to fall in love with her online husband. So, if they’re flying over, let say, a barley field, she begins to see that barley field in a different way and renames it into something more poetic, like, “field of gold,” “field of dreams,” and “pastoral meadow” because she’s seeing it through romantic eyes.

Her roommate comes and teases her about being in love and she sidesteps it by ordering her roommate to wear her mask (which she already is).

6. Kill-stealing for real

I don’t think this is an accident. Naihe is waiting for her so when she logs in he invites her to kill some monster.

Again this is Nai trying to help Weiwei get back at the Three Witches who falsely accused her. He sets up the opportunity and it’s up to her to do it.

When she successfully poaches the monster of the Three Witches, they complain that they’ve been bullied. One of Nai’s BFFs then posts a video to counter their claim on the internet and silence them in reality.

Weiwei says that it’s easy to act pitiful and gain sympathy. Two can play this game. She then proceeds to show how it’s done.

WW: I haven’t said anything this whole time. I believe I should not need to explain my innocence. But after experience this public condemnation I suddenly feel very disheartened.

Nai smiles at his end and starts to type an offer on the big forum/chatroom.

XN: Permanently offering high price for purchase of adamantine.

He’s asked why he’s collecting this gem. Is it to augment his the strength of his equipment?

XN: Not interested in that.

Then why are you collecting them?

XN: Giving them to my wife for her to play with.

Friend #3: Are you happy, Third sister-in-law? I bet Xiao Yu Qingqing must be pissed off.
Weiwei: I’m happy.

Essentially, what Nai did was to teach the girls in Weiwei’s clan not to mess around with his wife.

7. Last fangirling of the episode

Weiwei suspects that the guys were the ones who posted the video under different accounts to silence the Three Witches so she asks them.

Nai: Yes, it’s theirs.

Guys: The three of us opened alternate accounts just to steal Xiao Yu Qingqing’s bosses. We stole from her three times before she couldn’t stand it anymore and killed us. Come on, praise us!

Weiwei: You’re so wicked…too wicked.

Guys: It was Nai’s order! We’re innocent!

Weiwei: He’s so awesome!

Guys: Geez. What a difference in treatment, right?

*******************

That’s why I think this whole episode is all about Weiwei unconsciously fangirling her online husband. She doesn’t realize it but she’s been the biggest cheerleader for Nai. But in her innocent mind, he’s just an online friend.