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"Back then he was strongly against my cultivating method. He was desperate to catch me."
— Wei Wuxian, summing up his relationship with Lan Wangji
With Mo Xuanyu's revenge completed, Wei Wuxian flees the village. Before he can venture far, he realizes that his luck is worse than he thought, as he encounters not only one but two important figures of his past. The worst part is that he did not get along with either of them.
- Actually Pretty Funny: When Jin Ling reveals how much of an Extreme Omnisexual the real Mo Xuanyu was, Lan Wangji lets out a very subtle and quiet laugh despite the intensity of the situation, although what he finds hilarious about that statement is unclear.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: The episode softens Jin Ling's Establishing Character Moment, omitting the scene of him rudely leaving the cultivators entrapped in his binding nets while blaming them for getting caught and leaving out the part where he deliberately provokes the goddess statue through massive Tempting Fate. As a result, instead of pride and arrogance, Jin Ling's flaws are established as low self-esteem (from trying to please his uncle) and recklessness.
- Adaptational Sexuality: In the novel, Mo Xuanyu was explicitly stated to be a homosexual. In this episode, Jin Ling states that he is more of an Extreme Omnisexual that lusts after anyone and anything (both living and inanimate). Nevertheless, like in the novel, Wei Wuxian still attempts to use Mo Xuanyu's "interests" to his advantage.
- Adapted Out: The entire story behind the goddess statue is omitted. Instead, the statue in this episode wreaks havoc thanks to getting entangled with the demonic arm.
- Affably Evil: According to the other cultivators, Wei Wuxian had a reputation for being corrupt albeit charming in character.
- Any Last Words?: Jiang Cheng asks Wei Wuxian for any final words when he sees him restraining Jin Ling and prepares to deal with him.
- Aren't You Going to Ravish Me?: While Jiang Cheng doesn't swing that way, he seems to be offended at the notion of a Extreme Omnisexual not finding him attractive.
- Bad Powers, Good People: Lan Wangji, Lan Sizhui, and Lan Jingyi defend Wei Wuxian from Jiang Cheng by pointing out that "Mo Xuanyu" still saved their lives even if he used demonic cultivation.
- Batman Gambit: Wei Wuxian plays the flirtatious fool and states that Jiang Cheng is not his type of man while Lan Wangji is, expecting both of them to be disgusted by his remarks and thus finally leave him alone. He's only half-successful — while Jiang Cheng reacts as expected, Lan Wangji shocks Wei Wuxian by not only taking the "confession" in full stride but also announcing he will take him back to Gusu.
- Brutal Honesty: Lan Jingyi is quick to complain that Wei Wuxian's flute-playing is terrible even though they're in a middle of battle. Despite his rude way of saying it, he isn't wrong.
- Cheaters Never Prosper: Jin Ling attempted to gain an unfair advantage in his night-hunt at Dafan Mountain by setting up 400 Deity-Binding Nets all over the area. However, this is against the rules of night-hunting, and Lan Wangji cuts down every single net in response before Jin Ling is able to capture a single prey.
- Contrived Coincidence: While fleeing from Mo Village to avoid being spotted by Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian has the bad luck to not only run into him again but also encounter his former friend.
- Didn't See That Coming: Wei Wuxian makes a pass at Lan Wangji, with the expectation that it will disgust the stoic and no-nonsense man into leaving him alone. Needless to say, he does not count on Lan Wangji not only being unfazed but even deciding to take him back to Gusu.
- Extra-Long Episode: Like the previous episode (Part 1), this episode runs for 35 minutes rather than the usual 24 minutes.
- Facepalm: Lan Sizhui facepalms out of exasperation when Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling start fighting.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: When Wei Wuxian first plays the flute (which he made out of a broken bamboo stick), upon a closer look the viewer can see that the ends of the flute are jagged, which partly explains why his flute-playing sounds terrible.
- Hypocritical Humor: Jin Ling mocks Lan Jingyi for getting worked up over ghosts, only to panic when Lan Sizhui observes that the statue's eyes just moved.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: Jin Ling demonstrates impressive (and unrealistic) aim when he manages to shoot an arrow in between one of the links in Wen Ning's chains and pin him to a tree.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Wei Wuxian invokes loud and annoying sobbing to avoid being taken into the Cloud Recesses, where loud noises are forbidden. Unfortunately for him, this tactic doesn't work since Lan Wangji points out that he can be taken inside when he can't cry any longer.
- Mood Whiplash: What initially begins as a tense confrontation between Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng over what to do with Wei Wuxian ends with the very latter making passes at both of them.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Wei Wuxian is mortified when he finds out who Jin Ling really is, since he previously made a remark about the latter learning manners from his mother... when Wei Wuxian himself was involved with said mother's death. He even slaps himself in the face for this.
- Nonchalant Dodge: Wei Wuxian easily dodges each and every one of Jin Ling's blows, and he's completely unarmed to boot.
- Not So Above It All: Lan Wangji, who's stoic and a man of few words, shows subtle signs of having a sense of humor in the episode. He seems amused by the real Mo Xuanyu being an Extreme Omnisexual, and he smugly tosses an apple in the air when he makes sure Wei Wuxian can't leave the Cloud Recesses by luring back his donkey with the fruit.
- No, You: Lan Jingyi and Jin Ling throw insults back-and-forth over who's the more immature one after they accidentally spook each other in the cave.
- Obfuscating Insanity: Having grasped Mo Xuanyu's infamous reputation as a lunatic, Wei Wuxian continues to act like one to ward off suspicion of him being actually the legendary Yiling Patriarch. Then when Jin Ling mentions how Mo Xuanyu would hit on anyone, Wei Wuxian later acts like a shameless flirt in an attempt to get both Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji off his back.
- Oh, Crap!: Wei Wuxian freezes in horror upon encountering Jiang Cheng, who was established in the previous episode's exposition to be a former-friend-turned-enemy and was said to have killed him. Although the latter doesn't realize who he is at this point, he still acts terrifying and is more than willing to threaten Wei Wuxian simply for hurting his nephew and using demonic cultivation.
- Only Sane Man: Lan Sizhui is the only one who thinks that it's a bad idea to attack the Ghost General, the infamous fierce corpse that just defeated a monster that could have killed all of them.
- Possessive Wrist Grab: As Wei Wuxian attempts to calm down Wen Ning with his flute, he's interrupted halfway when Lan Wangji grabs his wrist from behind. He briefly struggles under the wrist grab but is able to continue playing. Lan Wangji looks at him intensely while keeping hold of him until he drops the flute.
- Psychotic Smirk: Jiang Cheng sports a twisted smile when he realizes that Wei Wuxian came Back from the Dead and tries to inflict Zidian onto him.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Wei Wuxian immediately leaves Mo Village when he sees Lan Wangji, fearing that the other will immediately figure out who he really is if he spots him.
- Spotting the Thread:
- Although Jiang Cheng knew that "Mo Xuanyu" was a demonic cultivator in their "first" encounter, it's not until the the latter plays the flute and summons Wen Ning that he realizes that the alleged lunatic is actually Wei Wuxian. However, he cannot prove this due to a loophole with Zidian's function.
- It's implied that Lan Wangji is onto "Mo Xuanyu" after noticing something, although it's unclear what exactly that something is. All it's clear is that there's a notable difference in how he treats the latter between their first and second encounters in this episode; he shows his gratitude towards Wei Wuxian for helping his disciples but otherwise initially has no interest in him, whereas later on he grabs hold of him with a suspicious look and is quick to both defend him and take him back to the Cloud Recesses.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Noted by Wei Wuxian regarding Lan Wangji. According to him, part of why they didn't get along in the past was due to the latter's disapproval of demonic cultivation, but now he's completely lenient and nicer about it.
- Ungrateful Bastard: Jin Ling isn't the least bit appreciative of "Mo Xuanyu" saving his life, in contrast to Lan Jingyi who doesn't hesitate to point that he saved everyone and so should be spared from Jiang Cheng's wrath.
- We Used to Be Friends: Implied with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. The former is uncomfortable in their first encounter as he knows how much the latter now hates him, and Jiang Cheng has nothing but malicious intentions when he correctly suspects "Mo Xuanyu" is the infamous Yilling Patriarch. This contrasts with their brief appearance in the flashback at the end, where the two interact in a more friendly and casual manner and are seen entering the Cloud Recesses together.
- Where It All Began: Wei Wuxian's arrival at the Cloud Recesses at the end of the episode is followed by the first Flashback Arc which takes place there. It's hinted to be where the most significant events in Wei Wuxian's life (such as his first meeting with Lan Wangji) began.
