I actually interpret that kiss before she finishes talking to be a leap of faith from him. He doesn't want her…
100% behind @TheBunny and @Amy here. The point was he no longer needed the ring or the hairpin. Their actions spoke. If he went back to relying on them, he was letting their personal insecurities trump.
Nothing they did was logical or pragmatic. He was comforting her with struggling with her decision whether or not to functionally assassinate him. He killed Chidi Woman. They are hobbling along, both as close to death as either have ever been, refusing to leave the other behind. She stands over him, when he is down the only thing she can offer is a sacrifice. She is outlining all the things she misses about Heavenly Realm, not removing her hand from his neck, holding tighter to his hand, not only turning down, but spitting on the engraved free pass she has been given by The God of War and the Emperor of the Immortals. She cut open her wrist to give him her blood and life force. She was worried he was thirsty. She confessed a major secret power she had to a general out for domination. He forbade her from using that power, even on himself.
You want words after that? They said everything with actions. You want thoughts after that? They defied rationality, cherished ambitions and any resemblance of sober judgement. You want emotion after that? That is emotion. He kept the momentum of what was working going; action, loyalty and trust.
I was just pimping our couple to someone who wanted to know what was so great about them. Well, let me tell you. Thank you so much for asking:
By strict definition their relationship should be toxic in the extreme. But it isn't. They have a very strong foundation of healthy (but not necessarily pleasant) communication, which has enabled them to trust each other in situations when it made no sense to do so. Neither have shed their own convictions for love, nor has either forsaken each other for their "greater good". Consent, power dynamics, boundaries and honoring the other's agenda and value structure (while not converting to it) are constant struggles they have to weather on a near quotidian basis.
One particularly fascinating and unique aspect of their relationship is that they stopped pretending/denying that lies, omissions, manipulations and betrayal opportunities are anomalies in their world (which is exactly what most other people/characters in their situation would do). It is just reality that several times a week they have opportunity AND motive to betray the other. But rather than turning it into a (if you pardon the wording) drama, they share their resentments of and doubts in the other (though not necessarily in a polite, "healthy" or mature way).
And they do in fact, lie to and manipulate each other constantly, to the point that they are doing so in nearly all their interactions and yet they tell each other straight to their face that they are doing it. They have betrayed each other several times, but it works because they are honest about it and don't hide their "betrayal". It is the source of their unusually strong bond and why they trust each other.
So is Episode 26 the new Episode 9? The whole thing functionally just counts as one mega-scene that I have to watch over and over and over and over again.
Vote for your Favorite Couple Moments from Today’s Episode 25 &26
You know it’s good when THAT kiss, DFQC stabbing the Chidi Woman with his Hellfire Sword or XLN choosing to go back didn’t even make the list.
1 - “I am in a bad mood. Talk to me.”
2 - “I’ve seen you in Fairies clothes. I’ve seen you in Moon Tribe’s clothes. Then I’ve seen you in mortal’s clothes. But the most beautiful clothes on you, is the wedding dress tonight.”
3 - “But now I don’t know what to do.” / DFQC holding no resentment or malice against her when he asked, “The poison wine and the bead were made by the same person, right?”
4 - DFQC still calling her Orchid, after finding out she is the Goddess.
5 - DFQC just trying to get his girl home and XLN not batting an eye at her agreeing nod that Moon Tribe is home.
6 - Not letting go of each other’s hand’s during the face-off.
7 - So much casual intimacy: Stumbling to the boat together / Touching his neck / Rubbing her back / Crying on his chest / Framing her face
8 - Episode 8 Upgrade: Wiping away her tears and telling her not to cry.
9 - Episode 15 Echo: DFQC reassuring her “I’m fine.”
10 - “Don’t take blood to save others from now on. I’m no exception.”
11 - His “Please, please say it” questions
12 - Her moving her hand to hold his properly
13 - Her adorable quick peck of affirmation before leaping out of his lap
14 - Hello? Honey? Is the meeting over?
15 - DFQC’s micro debate before drinking his medicine.
16 - Walk the girl to the door. Walk the girl to the door. Walk the girl to the door.
17 - Think Twice Before You Touch My Girl look at his brother.
18 - “Jieli said you want to be alone. I can accompany you.”
Honorable Mentions of Laughter: Shangque & Jieli Scooby Dooing out of there and Three Realm UN tea parties
I noticed DFQC did not say the line "this is the third time you have poisoned my drink" during the wedding night,…
Unless he is poetically counting Episode 14 (which I doubt) Also, they do call out this concept. You see him think about it right before he drinks the medicine and then be disappointed in himself for doubting her and then relieved that he trusted her.
1 
Nothing they did was logical or pragmatic. He was comforting her with struggling with her decision whether or not to functionally assassinate him. He killed Chidi Woman. They are hobbling along, both as close to death as either have ever been, refusing to leave the other behind. She stands over him, when he is down the only thing she can offer is a sacrifice. She is outlining all the things she misses about Heavenly Realm, not removing her hand from his neck, holding tighter to his hand, not only turning down, but spitting on the engraved free pass she has been given by The God of War and the Emperor of the Immortals. She cut open her wrist to give him her blood and life force. She was worried he was thirsty. She confessed a major secret power she had to a general out for domination. He forbade her from using that power, even on himself.
You want words after that? They said everything with actions. You want thoughts after that? They defied rationality, cherished ambitions and any resemblance of sober judgement. You want emotion after that? That is emotion. He kept the momentum of what was working going; action, loyalty and trust.
Well, let me tell you. Thank you so much for asking:
By strict definition their relationship should be toxic in the extreme. But it isn't. They have a very strong foundation of healthy (but not necessarily pleasant) communication, which has enabled them to trust each other in situations when it made no sense to do so. Neither have shed their own convictions for love, nor has either forsaken each other for their "greater good". Consent, power dynamics, boundaries and honoring the other's agenda and value structure (while not converting to it) are constant struggles they have to weather on a near quotidian basis.
One particularly fascinating and unique aspect of their relationship is that they stopped pretending/denying that lies, omissions, manipulations and betrayal opportunities are anomalies in their world (which is exactly what most other people/characters in their situation would do). It is just reality that several times a week they have opportunity AND motive to betray the other. But rather than turning it into a (if you pardon the wording) drama, they share their resentments of and doubts in the other (though not necessarily in a polite, "healthy" or mature way).
And they do in fact, lie to and manipulate each other constantly, to the point that they are doing so in nearly all their interactions and yet they tell each other straight to their face that they are doing it. They have betrayed each other several times, but it works because they are honest about it and don't hide their "betrayal". It is the source of their unusually strong bond and why they trust each other.
Yes, the juxtaposition between actions and words in 6 was everything (tied with 18)
Like - Again? This guy?
1 - “I am in a bad mood. Talk to me.”
2 - “I’ve seen you in Fairies clothes. I’ve seen you in Moon Tribe’s clothes. Then I’ve seen you in mortal’s clothes. But the most beautiful clothes on you, is the wedding dress tonight.”
3 - “But now I don’t know what to do.” / DFQC holding no resentment or malice against her when he asked, “The poison wine and the bead were made by the same person, right?”
4 - DFQC still calling her Orchid, after finding out she is the Goddess.
5 - DFQC just trying to get his girl home and XLN not batting an eye at her agreeing nod that Moon Tribe is home.
6 - Not letting go of each other’s hand’s during the face-off.
7 - So much casual intimacy: Stumbling to the boat together / Touching his neck / Rubbing her back / Crying on his chest / Framing her face
8 - Episode 8 Upgrade: Wiping away her tears and telling her not to cry.
9 - Episode 15 Echo: DFQC reassuring her “I’m fine.”
10 - “Don’t take blood to save others from now on. I’m no exception.”
11 - His “Please, please say it” questions
12 - Her moving her hand to hold his properly
13 - Her adorable quick peck of affirmation before leaping out of his lap
14 - Hello? Honey? Is the meeting over?
15 - DFQC’s micro debate before drinking his medicine.
16 - Walk the girl to the door. Walk the girl to the door. Walk the girl to the door.
17 - Think Twice Before You Touch My Girl look at his brother.
18 - “Jieli said you want to be alone. I can accompany you.”
Honorable Mentions of Laughter:
Shangque & Jieli Scooby Dooing out of there and Three Realm UN tea parties