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"Those who take advantage of their family's power to bully others should all be killed. Not do they deserve to be killed, but should be beheaded and cursed by all people, as a warning to future generations [...] You can go to hell now."
— Wei Wuxian turning the tables on Wen Chao with the Wen Clan teachings
With the clear intention to divide and conquer, the Wen Clan makes its move and attacks several clans, including the Lan Clan, before conscripting the younger cultivators for "reeducation".
- Awakening the Sleeping Giant: The dangerous-looking monster residing in Xuanwu Cave would have minded its own business if left alone. Unfortunately, the ruckus between the Wens and the other cultivators wakes it up, and its anger endangers everyone present.
- Bystander Syndrome: When Mianmian is chosen as the bait to lure out the demon in the cave, almost no one acts against Wen Chao's orders, and Jiang Cheng stops Wei Wuxian before he can do anything. This is partially justified since they're all essentially held hostage and have no weapons, thus they couldn't properly act even if they wanted to.
- Chekhov's Gun: While flipping through the Wen Clan rulebook, Wei Wuxian notes that one of their proverbs sounds sensible. He later quotes this proverb to Wen Chao in an attempt to shame and provoke him.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Wang Lingjiao suggests that Mianmian should be sacrificed to the monster, simply because Wen Chao had his eyes on her.
- Continuity Nod: When he learns of Lan Wangji's leg injury, Wei Wuxian approaches him and offers him a piggyback ride, telling him that they're already close. Lan Wangji rebuffs him by saying, "Not close."
- Dirty Coward: Wen Chao wastes no time bragging about his power over the young cultivators to do his bidding, but he easily pleads for his life once Wei Wuxian takes him as a hostage after one Kick the Dog too many.
- Gory Discretion Shot: The screen cuts to black just as Wei Wuxian is branded, with the sounds of scorching skin and his pained shout letting imagination fill in the rest.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Jin Zixuan may be unbearable due to his standoffish attitude, but he demonstrates his noble side when he chooses to take a stand against Mianmian being used live bait for the demon. Wei Wuxian even lampshades that he's got guts.
- Irony: Wei Wuxian points out that the founder of the Wen Clan preached against people who abuse their authority... when that is what his clan is currently doing.
- Late to the Punchline: Downplayed. When Wei Wuxian states that men who abuse their power and bully others deserve to die, it takes a while for Wen Chao to realize he was referring to him.
- Make an Example of Them: After complaining about giving up their swords, Wen Zhuliu crushes a random cultivator's golden core to show what would happen to everyone else if they won't follow his orders. This shocks everyone else to comply giving up their swords and be pushed around by the Wens.
- Out-of-Character Alert: Wei Wuxian notices that something's wrong with Lan Wangji when he is strangely compliant in giving up his sword instead of fighting back.
- Papa Wolf: Downplayed. When Yu Ziyuan goes a little too far with pointing out that Jiang Cheng is still inferior to Wei Wuxian and may as well always will be, Jiang Fengmian tells her to cut it out.
- Pet the Dog: Despite her usual hostile attitude towards the boys early in the episode, Yu Ziyuan expresses concern for how Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian are faring under the Wens.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Even when threatened with execution, Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan refuse to let an innocent girl be sacrificed. After things escalate into a full-on brawl, even Jiang Cheng no longer stops Wei Wuxian from verbally dissing Wen Chao.
- Skewed Priorities: A giant tortoise is awake and currently on the rampage, and yet Wang Lingjiao thinks that now is a good time to use the branding iron on Mianmian.
- Taking the Bullet: Wei Wuxian puts himself in front of Mianmian and gets branded on his chest to protect her from being branded on her face.
- That's No Moon: What seemed like a boulder turns out to be the shell of a large, man-eating tortoise.
