Episode 19 recap: Gong Qing killed Tian Jin Zhong.
As soon as Zhang Zhiwei returned to the Tian Shi Mansion, Xu San reported the losses caused by Quan Xing's attack. These losses would be covered by insurance companies. Feng Bao Bao asked Zhang Chu Lan about any information regarding her origin at the Tian Shi Mansion, but Zhang Zhiwei overheard it. He quickly called Zhang Chu Lan away to resolve her embarrassment.
Zhang Zhiwei had just brought Zhang Chu Lan back to their residence when Akun and Afeng, who belonged to Quan Xing, bid him farewell. They expressed their desire to leave Long Hu Mountain. Zhang Zhiwei asked them to stay and serve him tea and water, which displeased the two, but they dared not offend Zhang Zhiwei and reluctantly agreed. Zhang Chu Lan didn't want to accept the Tian Shi Degree because she had already guessed Zhang Zhiwei's fate if she did.
Zhang Zhiwei knew that the future of the supernatural world belonged to the new generation, such as Zhang Chu Lan, Zhang Ling Yu, and Wang Ye. He noticed that Feng Bao Bao was waiting for Zhang Chu Lan and urged her to leave quickly. Seeing the disappointed look in Feng Bao Bao's eyes, Zhang Chu Lan knew that she was angry with him and hurriedly chased after her. Rong Shan, instead of accompanying Tian Jin Zhong, ended up beating Afeng and Akun. He appeared in front of Zhang Zhiwei, who sensed that something was wrong. He quickly asked where Tian Jin Zhong was and learned that he was alone on the mountain. Zhang Zhiwei immediately rushed there, but unfortunately, he was too late. Tian Jin Zhong had already been killed.
Nalu Tong, an expert in restoring crime scenes in the supernatural world, recreated the process of Tian Jin Zhong's murder using the remaining qi at the scene. It turned out that Gong Qing, the current leader of Quan Xing, had infiltrated Long Hu Mountain as a Taoist disciple for three years to gather information. He had been investigating Zhang Xi Lin's matter for a long time but found nothing. When he was about to give up, he learned that Tian Jin Zhong and Zhang Zhiwei had secretly left the mountain years ago. After that, Tian Jin Zhong was tortured and rendered crippled, requiring constant care. From this, it was deduced that Tian Jin Zhong had been captured and interrogated about Zhang Xi Lin.
Gong Qing also discovered that Tian Jin Zhong, who claimed not to need sleep, had been dozing off several times but dared not sleep. This led him to suspect that Tian Jin Zhong was hiding something. The time when Tian Jin Zhong stopped needing sleep coincided with his return from leaving the mountain, which further strengthened Gong Qing's belief. He thought that Tian Jin Zhong knew the secret of Zhang Xi Lin but was too afraid to disclose it to his fellow disciples, fearing that he might reveal it in his sleep.
To test this possibility, Gong Qing launched the attack on Long Hu Mountain, taking advantage of the chaos to forcefully copy all of Tian Jin Zhong's memories using Lv Liang.
Gong Qing originally intended for Lv Liang to sift through Tian Jin Zhong's memories related to Zhang Xi Lin, but Tian Jin Zhong's spirit was incredibly strong, and Lv Liang couldn't accomplish the task. He could only do his best to copy the memories. After finishing his work, Lv Liang was about to leave when Tian Jin Zhong called Gong Qing inside. Gong Qing knelt before Tian Jin Zhong and listened to his harsh rebuke, calling him despicable and cowardly, like a rat hiding in a dark corner. Gong Qing didn't want to be controlled by Tian Jin Zhong, so he used the Guimen Needle to take Tian Jin Zhong's life.
After meeting with the members of Quan Xing, Yuan Tao pressed Gong Qing for the outcome of the incident and intentionally used a magical artifact to exert pressure on Gong Qing. It turned out that Gong Qing had staked his own life as a bet, allowing the members of Quan Xing to attack the mountain. He did manage to obtain Tian Jin Zhong's memories and win the gamble. Yuan Tao dared not act recklessly anymore.
During his three years at Long Hu Mountain, Gong Qing held great respect for Tian Jin Zhong. He made all the members of Quan Xing mourn Tian Jin Zhong for seven days. If anyone failed to do so, they would be killed. Years ago, Tian Jin Zhong insisted on questioning Zhang Xi Lin about a hidden matter. Afterward, Zhang Xi Lin invited Tian Jin Zhong to leave together, but Tian Jin Zhong wanted to return to the mountain to report, and that's when he encountered the disaster. Tian Jin Zhong, who had lost his ability to move, wanted to die, but his master saved him and reminded him that cultivators should not seek death in the face of setbacks. They should live on with strength.
Tian Jin Zhong regained his spirits and worked hard to cultivate his internal strength. One day, he discovered that he talked in his sleep, apologizing to his master and senior brother and mentioning something about origins. This made him worry that he couldn't keep secrets, so he forcibly prevented himself from sleeping. He persisted in this for decades until his passing, which could be seen as a form of release.
Rong Shan blamed himself deeply for Tian Jin Zhong's death and cried silently, almost losing his sanity. When Zhang Zhiwei discovered this, he immediately pushed Rong Shan out of the door with a palm strike, and only then did Rong Shan cry aloud, causing great sadness to those who heard it. Tian Jin Zhong's ashes were scattered in the rivers of Long Hu Mountain. Many people came to bid him farewell. Zhang Chu Lan expressed her gratitude to Tian Jin Zhong for keeping Zhang Xi Lin's secret for so many years. Zhang Zhiwei looked at the Guimen Needle he had put away in the box, his face turning grim. He would never let Tian Jin Zhong's death be in vain and vowed to seek justice for him.
As for the relationship between Bao'er and Zhang Chu Lan, it can't be described in terms of the present notions of family, romantic love, or friendship. Zhang Chu Lan definitely has a liking for Bao'er, but it's mostly gratitude, appreciation, and a sense of responsibility.
He feels a deep sense of responsibility towards Bao'er. Without the past, after Xu Xiang's departure, from the moment he refused to be a celestial master and agreed to be with Bao'er, he became the next Xu Xiang.
He will love Bao'er, take care of her, protect her, and accompany her. He also knows that Bao'er will remain forever young and immortal. But from the moment he embraced her, he willingly accepted it. Since then, the unstoppable chariot heading towards the truth of the Jia Shen turmoil can never be stopped, even if it means sacrificing himself.
Because Jia Shen is the only path to unravel Bao'er's true identity, and because he has already rejected the celestial master's intervention.
Because being alive is truly torture. The final perseverance, the secret couldn't be kept, and decades of sleeplessness were all for the sake of guarding this secret.
Being alive is a shame. So let Xiaoqingzi...