In the outskirts of Linfen lies an ancient temple nestled among towering mountains and dense forests. The temple’s bell chimes echo long and far, resonating through the valleys for an extended period. Within the temple’s fragrance hall resides a renowned fertility master, attracting a continuous stream of visitors seeking assistance.
Luo Shuxiang and Jin Miaocui trek over mountains and across rugged terrain to the ancient temple to seek help in conceiving a child. They refer to each other as sisters-in-law. Upon entering, they notice a row of soft shoes placed in front of the fertility master’s Buddha statue. Those seeking help must change into these soft shoes before entering. Following the rules, they换上定制的软鞋 (put on the custom soft shoes). Master Bai Yue, the senior disciple, hears about their visit and arrives, ordering them to kneel and surrender all their gold and silver jewelry. Reluctantly, they comply.
Luo Shuxiang and Jin Miaocui visit the fragrance hall to meet the master. Luo Shuxiang explains their purpose: she and her husband have been married for three years without children, and her elder sister-in-law has been married for five years without giving birth to a son or daughter. They earnestly seek the master’s guidance. The master takes a bit of water from a copper basin and sprinkles it in front of them. He then gives each of them two elixirs, Qirong Dan and Tiaojing Dan, and provides detailed instructions on how to take them, instructing them to return to their rooms to pray.
As Luo Shuxiang exits her room to look around, Bai Yue forcibly drives her back. That night, as Luo Shuxiang is about to sleep, Bai Yue sneaks in to assault her. She fiercely resists, injuring Bai Yue’s shoulder. Embarrassed and angry, Bai Yue suspects she didn’t take the elixirs and lies, claiming she felt nauseous after taking them and vomited. Bai Yue forcibly has relations with her, only to discover that Luo Shuxiang’s underwear is sewn shut. Enraged, Bai Yue strikes her, inadvertently noticing Luo Shuxiang’s bruised and battered body.
Desperate, Luo Shuxiang pleads for mercy, claiming to be a maid from the Ding household. The Ding family patriarch has been childless for years, and the mistress sent them to seek help. If they return home with their clothes intact, it would prove that the fertility master isn’t a fraud. Luo Shuxiang offers all her money to Bai Yue, promising to find a way to deceive the mistress. Bai Yue agrees to use this method to make the mistress pregnant, planning to overthrow her and take her place. Once the patriarch passes away, they can elope together.
Bai Yue has long been fed up with the master’s oppression. The master keeps all the collected wealth for himself, not giving them a single penny. Worried that Luo Shuxiang might go back on her word, Bai Yue insists on drawing up an IOU, and the two agree. Meanwhile, another disciple forcefully enters Luo Shuxiang and Jin Miaocui’s room to assault them. Jin Miaocui fights back desperately, injuring the disciple severely, who begrudgingly leaves.
It turns out the fertility master is a fraud. He has raised twenty strong men as disciples, using elixirs to drug the women seeking help, then having his disciples engage in intimate relations with them. Shortly after, these women become pregnant, leading everyone to believe it’s the master’s miraculous work. This reputation spreads, making the master famous as a celestial being.
County Magistrate Chen Meiqing and his constables storm the ancient temple, subduing the gatekeeper disciple and surrounding the area. Chen Meiqing orders the disciples to bring out the master and all disciples. The master stubbornly refuses and is harshly reprimanded by Chen Meiqing. Master Bai Yue arrives shortly after with a domineering attitude. Han Muzhi, who has recently taken office, arrives and scolds the master severely. Terrified, the master begs for mercy and brings out all twenty disciples.
Han Muzhi orders the disciples to undress. Bai Yue and another disciple have injuries from being grabbed. When Han Muzhi questions them, Bai Yue lies, claiming they were playfully roughhousing. Luo Shuxiang steps forward to expose their lies, recounting how Bai Yue drugged her. The master shifts all the blame onto Bai Yue, insisting it was her personal action and he was unaware. Luo Shuxiang wants to accuse the master but lacks concrete evidence. Another disciple publicly reveals that Luo Shuxiang is the leader of Mingkefang, known by the nickname “Jin Nang.” The master pleads with Han Muzhi to punish Luo Shuxiang severely. Suspecting there are secret passages within the fragrance hall, Luo Shuxiang suggests a thorough search. Han Muzhi orders his constables to immediately split up and investigate.
The constables discover the secret passages and find many imprisoned women inside. Chen Meiqing suggests apprehending the women for questioning. Luo Shuxiang asks Han Muzhi to release them, stating they are also victims. The story traces back a few days when a woman returned from the fragrance hall and, fearing to ask her in-laws for money, attempted suicide by drowning. The constables rescued her and learned about the fragrance hall’s conspiracy from her. Han Muzhi then sends Luo Shuxiang and Jin Miaocui to infiltrate the hall and uncover the truth.
Luo Shuxiang brings Chen Meiqing to the master’s residence and quickly discovers a secret passage containing a large stash of gold, silver, and land deeds. The master denies ownership. Han Muzhi orders the master and his disciples to be taken back for interrogation. Suddenly, Luo Shuxiang faints. Han Muzhi keeps the master and disciples under supervision on the spot. Luo Shuxiang regains consciousness at dawn, and Han Muzhi shows concern for her before having the constables escort the master and his disciples down the mountain to the county office.
Along the way, a group of mountain bandits arrives to rescue the master. The master forces Han Muzhi to let him go, but Han Muzhi firmly refuses. The master orders his men to kill Han Muzhi and his group. Just then, Chen Meiqing arrives with constables and soldiers, surrounding the master and his followers. Realizing his predicament, the master tries to hold Luo Shuxiang hostage. Han Muzhi offers to exchange himself as a hostage for Luo Shuxiang. Taking advantage of the master’s vulnerability, Chen Meiqing shoots him dead, causing the bandits to scatter in chaos. Han Muzhi honors the agreement by giving Luo Shuxiang a sum of money. Luo Shuxiang politely declines, asking only for Han Muzhi to secure her release.
A day earlier, Yu Mama from Mingkefang was preparing for the eighteenth birthday ritual of Shu Long. She spread the word, attracting a crowd of visitors to Mingkefang.
