Episode 21 recap: Wang Ye became the target of someone's surveillance.
Zhang Zhiwei appeared on the Ganbei Grassland. He intended to conquer Quanxing, but Shi Lao appeared to stop him. Lu Jin specifically stepped forward to prevent Zhang Zhiwei and advised him not to act in such a manner. However, Zhang Zhiwei didn't want to waste time and with just one move, he made Lu Jin spit out blood and collapse to the ground. Zhang Zhiwei apologized to Lu Jin and stated that he would accept punishment once this matter was over.
Gong Qing was the person Zhang Zhiwei was looking for, but instead, fourteen other experts from Quanxing arrived. These experts took pride in being able to fight against Zhang Zhiwei and intended to capture him. However, Zhang Zhiwei, being the strongest among the extraordinary individuals, easily defeated their combined attack with a few moves using his thunder technique. The fourteen individuals fell to the ground, heavily injured, tears of blood streaming from their eyes. Gong Qing could no longer hide and had to reveal himself.
Zhang Zhiwei wanted to kill Gong Qing, but Gong Qing believed that Zhang Zhiwei's purpose was to protect the secret in Tian Jin Zhong's memory in order to prevent the chaos of Jia Shen. However, he used the wrong method because Zhang Chu Lan was the crucial figure in restarting the chaos of Jia Shen.
Zhang Zhiwei believed that Zhang Chu Lan had a sense of justice and was the variable to deal with unjust people, while Gong Qing was truly committing unjust acts, killing Tian Jin Zhong. Gong Qing continued, revealing that he knew Zhang Zhiwei's concern about the land of rootless enlightenment, which was far more important than the Eight Marvelous Techniques. Gong Qing believed that it was time to reshuffle the extraordinary world and pursue true essence.
Zhang Zhiwei had missed the previous Jia Shen year, and this time he would not back down. No matter what Gong Qing said, he would step forward and execute Gong Qing, ensuring that righteousness prevailed over evil in the world of abilities. Gong Qing gambled that Zhang Zhiwei wouldn't dare to kill him, as it would result in punishment for Zhang Zhiwei. However, Zhang Zhiwei was certain that the extraordinary world did not only consist of him but also contained others who held justice in their hearts. Without mercy, he killed Gong Qing. When Gong Qing died, there was a mysterious needle inserted in his forehead, the same needle that killed Tian Jin Zhong.
Zhang Zhiwei was imprisoned for life due to the misuse of his abilities and would never be able to leave Longhu Mountain again. In his final meeting with Zhang Chu Lan, he learned that Zhang Chu Lan would sacrifice himself to confront those who used justice as an excuse to pursue personal gain and cause trouble. Zhang Zhiwei couldn't help but feel relieved and lamented that if he had the courage and decisiveness of Zhang Chu Lan in his younger days, the current situation would not have occurred.
Zhang Chu Lan requested one last favor from Zhang Zhiwei: to break the prohibition sand that his grandfather placed on him. Zhang Zhiwei fulfilled Zhang Chu Lan's wish and forcibly broke the prohibition with his thunder technique, leaving Zhang Chu Lan in a sorry state.
Zhang Chu Lan refused the Tian Shi Du, and Xu San wanted a reason, while Feng Bao Bao also wanted to know. Zhang Chu Lan straightforwardly stated that the Tian Shi Du was actually a prohibition. If accepted, Zhang Zhiwei would have to die, and the secret of the Jia Shen chaos would also be concealed, just like Zhang Zhiwei at the moment. He knew everything but was constrained by the Tian Shi Du and couldn't say anything.
Zhang Chu Lan believed that as long as they followed the thirty-six thieves and the Eight Marvelous Techniques, they would eventually uncover the truth and find a breakthrough point in Wang Ye. Wang Ye returned to Wudang Mountain for a week, but he didn't even get to see the Grand Minister. On this day, Wang Ye specifically brought the Grand Minister's favorite porridge, but the Grand Minister refused to see him at all. He denied that Wang Ye was a member of Wudang and had already expelled him.
Wang Ye had no choice but to prepare to return to the capital. While waiting for the car, Feng Xing Tong took the initiative to offer him a ride to the airport. During the journey, Feng Xing Tong promised Wang Ye a monthly salary of 25,000 yuan and suggested that Wang Ye sign a contract with the Tianxia Association. Unexpectedly, there was a private jet waiting for Wang Ye at the airport, making Feng Xing Tong extremely embarrassed, and he hurriedly took back the contract.
On the way, Wang Ye listened to Du Shu talking about the recent development of the Wang family and learned that his father, Wang Wei Guo, had been growing his business but couldn't stand to see him wearing Daoist robes. So at Du Shu's request, Wang Ye changed into a suit. Wang Wei Guo wanted Wang Ye to manage the family business and pretended to be sick, but Wang Ye saw through his act and made him admit that he just wanted Wang Ye to spend more time at home.
Wang Ye discovered traces of Qi manipulation in his room, indicating that someone with extraordinary abilities had been there. He wanted to hire some extraordinary individuals to protect his family, but the abilities of the ones he recruited were mediocre, and their price was high. Wang Ye could only find a way to borrow money. Zhang Chu Lan and Feng Bao Bao came to keep an eye on Wang Ye, but Wang Ye noticed them. So, the two of them simply agreed to Wang Ye's request and helped him fend off Jin Jiayu's advances. Just as Wang Ye successfully borrowed the money and was about to leave, Feng Bao Bao noticed someone tailing them. Zhang Chu Lan, relying on his driving skills, tried to shake off the pursuer but had his car tire blown out by someone's ability. They narrowly avoided a car accident, but luckily, Wang Ye cast a spell to stabilize the situation.
Seeing so many extraordinary individuals waiting for them, Wang Ye understood that it was a challenge.
The main instigator of the Jia Shen Rebellion is Zhang Huai Yi, who is Zhang Chu Lan's grandfather and also the younger brother of the current Zhang Tian Shi. He had once refused to accept the Tian Shi Degree passed down to him by Lao Tian Shi, but he remembered the runic symbols contained within the degree. The Tian Shi Degree holds the secrets of cultivating immortality, which is the origin of the Eight Extraordinary Techniques. However, it also contains powerful restrictions to prevent the secret from being leaked to anyone.
In his quest to explore the path of immortality, Zhang Huai Yi joined forces with Wu Gen Sheng and 36 other individuals, including both righteous and evil factions, to decipher the runic symbols of the Tian Shi Degree. They engraved the symbols onto a person's body, making her the vessel of the Tian Shi Degree. This person is Bao Er Jie, who is Feng Bao Bao, Wu Gen Sheng's younger sister. Wu Gen Sheng harbored selfish intentions and wanted to bestow the power of the Tian Shi Degree upon her. He killed the leader of the San Yi Sect and took away their ultimate technique, the "Triple Reversal of Life," teaching it to Bao Er Jie so that she could serve as the vessel for the Tian Shi Degree.
Is the comic updated to this point? Or is it just your speculation?
Wang Ye's visit to Longhu Mountain has another important purpose, which is to persuade Zhang Chu Lan. What is his relationship with Zhang Chu Lan? It's not that he doesn't want him to get involved in the troubles.
Of course not. Wang Ye doesn't have any ulterior motives here. It's purely because he deduced that some of Zhang Chu Lan's choices may lead to a worse future for the world.
That's why he's willing to put himself in a difficult position and try to guide Zhang Chu Lan towards a better direction for the world.
Wang Ye has reached such a high position and yet remains self-aware. He recognized his own shortcomings through Zhang Chu Lan and made the right choice to transition from being aloof to embracing the mortal world and gaining experience in the mundane realm.
Wang Ye's visit to Longhu Mountain serves another important purpose, which is to persuade Zhang Chu Lan. You might wonder about their relationship and why Wang Ye doesn't want him to get involved in conflicts. Well, it's not driven by personal motives.
Wang Ye's actions are purely based on his deduction that some of Zhang Chu Lan's choices could potentially worsen the future of the world. Therefore, he is willing to place himself in a precarious position to try and guide Zhang Chu Lan towards a better path for the world.
I started watching this drama as a casual viewer, but somewhere around a few episodes in, I got completely hooked. The more I watched, the more I fell in love with it. It has a great mix of comedy that made me laugh and heartfelt moments that brought tears to my eyes.
It beautifully portrays themes of family, friendship, and even love. Moreover, it offers profound insights into life and philosophy. It's not just the silly and funny comedy I initially thought it was.
As I delved deeper into it, I discovered that this drama delves into many profound aspects.
I actually enjoyed watching it with my fifth-grade son. We couldn't stop watching! My kid said it was fantastic! I think it's really great! We discussed it while watching. The supernatural elements were handled in a "bright" way, and the romantic parts were kept within limits, so I feel comfortable letting my child watch it.
Moreover, there are many profound life philosophies in this drama adapted from a comic. The actors put in a lot of effort! Especially some veteran actors with strong conviction in their acting skills!
Have you ever thought about the consequences of wiping out the entire Xing Sect? Some people in the comments section are completely assuming things. First of all, in the manga, Lao Tian Shi basically wiped out the entire Xing Sect within a few days.
It was real killing, wiping them all out, unlike the TV drama where only Gong Qing was killed and the rest were spared. If it weren't for the fact that the paranormal world is already very unique, and Lao Tian Shi is even more unique within that, if he killed so many people, he would have been wanted everywhere.
Secondly, the paranormal world is a special existence in society, and this will be explained in more detail in the second season, specifically in the Chen Duo arc of the manga.
The paranormal world needs the Xing Sect, they need a target of public criticism. Otherwise, what would happen after wiping out the Xing Sect? Have you ever considered that?