Zhongkui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal

Three years earlier, a snow demon named Little Snow tempts a younger Kui in a moment meant to seduce him. Her feelings complicate the plan, and she ultimately leaves when Kui declares that humans and demons do not belong together. The encounter seeds a deep conflict of loyalties that will haunt them both.

Kui passes the imperial exams only to have his hard-won status stripped away by bribery, driving him into despair. He begins to distrust the world’s order and the rulers who govern it. The loss becomes a catalyst for the darker path that lies ahead.

Diaoxian revives Kui with a magical elixir, leaving him to believe he remains fully human even as a growing demon-heritage awakens inside him. The rebirth masks his true nature and binds him closer to Diaoxian’s ambitions. This transformation foreshadows the clash to come.

Three years after his awakening, Kui masters new powers and steals the Dark Crystal from Hell on Diaoxian’s command. The artifact’s theft marks the first major step toward rewriting reality. The balance of Hu tilts as hidden agendas begin to surface.

The Demon King, betrayed and desperate, rallies followers—along with real demons—to reclaim the Dark Crystal. He revives Snow Girl to aid in the quest, while the Demon Sisters travel to Hu disguised as dancers to tempt the town into revelry. Their aim is to soften Hu’s defenses and fracture the people’s resolve.

Kui infiltrates the demon ruse, feigning drunkenness to draw out the sisters and learn their true nature. A glimmer of romance rekindles between Kui and Snow, making the struggle feel personal as well as political. The two grow closer even as they stand on opposite sides.

The ruse is uncovered, a mystical fox guardian intervenes, and the lovers are pulled into direct conflict. Diaoxian arrives; the demon sisters are defeated and Snow is exposed before the townspeople. Kui must choose between killing Snow to protect the mission or sparing her; he chooses mercy, but Diaoxian wounds Kui and Snow vanishes into the maelstrom.

Snow is captured again and imprisoned in a crystalline structure high above the city, her life force weakening as a centuries-long exile looms. Kui, wounded but undeterred, joins the Demon King’s forces to rescue her and sets out to retrieve elixirs that will let him venture into Hell to confront Diaoxian.

Kui journeys into Hell, gathering powers and allies as he schemes to reclaim Snow and end Diaoxian’s tyranny. The rescue plan grows sharper as traps and demonic guardians test his resolve at every turn.

Kui confronts Diaoxian in a climactic clash as his demon form surges forth. The townspeople rally to Kui’s side while Snow fights to break free from her crystal prison. Using a hidden blade, Kui shatters Diaoxian’s energy shield and rends the villain into four pieces, exposed to the world.

The crystalline prison collapses and Snow begins to fall. Kui catches her, but she is gravely injured and temporarily snuffed of life as she drifts toward Hell to recuperate. The town’s faith in Kui’s rebellion swells, and the Dark Crystal helps restore chi to Hu.

With the Dark Crystal restored, the Jade Emperor appears and invites Kui to reincarnate, acknowledging that the heavens still need him as the world is rebuilt. The invitation marks a change in destiny and a new chance at redemption.

Kui dives back into Hell to seek Snow’s next rebirth, trusting that their bond can outlast cycles of life and death. The film closes on a hopeful note: Hu is saved for now, and Kui’s journey toward redemption continues beyond the screen.