Episode 25 recap: The Origin of Zhao Tan Tan.
Feng Bao intended to separate Zhao Tan Tan and Cui Chen, arranging for Cui Chen to stay in the backyard while Zhao Tan Tan and Feng Bao would live in the front yard. Zhao Tan Tan hesitated, not wanting to be far away from Cui Chen. Sensing her hesitation, Cui Chen quickly spoke up, advising Zhao Tan Tan to go with the flow. However, he didn't understand why Feng Bao held such strong animosity toward him, so he took the opportunity to ask Feng Bao.
Zhao Tan Tan had a jade pendant around her neck, which had the same lotus pattern as the one Cui Chen knew belonged to Lotus Mark's sister. He didn't know her identity before, but now he had figured out that Feng Bao was Lotus Mark's sister. In Cui Chen's eyes, Zhao Tan Tan was not a substitute for anyone, so he hoped Feng Bao wouldn't treat her as if she were Lotus Mark. This displeased Feng Bao greatly as she remembered that Cui Chen had personally killed Lotus Mark, considering him unworthy of having any feelings.
Cui Chen explained that the events of the past were not as Feng Bao believed, but she refused to believe him. She thought Cui Chen was only worried that Zhao Tan Tan might be Lotus Mark and afraid that she would remember everything. Cui Chen pretended to brush off Feng Bao's words, but he was actually concerned that Zhao Tan Tan might mind. He withdrew his hand from knocking on the door and returned to his room.
Feng Bao questioned Xie Yu about why he had kept the news about the lotus seeds in Wanfang City hidden from her. Xie Yu, as a guardian of the city, had to consider the people of Wanfang City. The existence of the lotus seeds was crucial for the city's survival, so he refused to reveal their location. Feng Bao was furious, but she understood Xie Yu's decision. She decided to distract Cui Chen and make Zhao Tan Tan remember that she was Lotus Mark. Early in the morning, she had someone spread the news about the lotus seeds to lure Zhao Tan Tan out. Shortly after, she personally led Cui Chen, who was searching for Zhao Tan Tan, to a secret chamber.
Although Cui Chen knew that Feng Bao was unhappy with him, he didn't expect her to not only ignore his explanations but also trap him in a secret chamber with the memorial tablet of Lotus Mark. Cui Chen grew anxious, unable to find a way out. He started examining the items in the chamber and discovered numerous martial arts manuals, suspecting that Lotus Mark had kept many things hidden from him.
Suddenly, he sensed the presence of lotus energy and immediately investigated, eventually finding the lotus seeds hidden within the mechanism behind Lotus Mark's memorial tablet. He also discovered a jade shovel emitting spiritual energy, releasing the trapped spirit of Feng Zhai, the former lord of Wanfang City, who had been imprisoned inside. Upon seeing Cui Chen, Feng Zhai immediately attacked, seeking revenge for Lotus Mark. Cui Chen explained that he hadn't killed Lotus Mark; what Feng Zhai had witnessed that day was a secret technique of the Dongxu Sect.
Zhao Tan Tan was led by someone to an old man who carved jade. The old man immediately asked her about the lotus seeds, but he threatened her, saying she had to choose a piece of jade and carve something before he would reveal any information. Zhao Tan Tan, intimidated by the old man's fierceness, didn't dare to resist and sat down obediently to carve. However, her mind was preoccupied, and she couldn't focus properly, causing the jade material in her hands to shatter.
The old man blamed Zhao Tan Tan for her impatience and showed her a jade shovel. This triggered a memory in Zhao Tan Tan's mind of her and her sister carving jade together when they were young. But she couldn't believe it and wanted to leave. Feng Bao and the old man blocked Zhao Tan Tan, wanting her to prove her identity as Lotus Mark by looking into a true mirror.
Zhao Tan Tan didn't like Feng Bao using their sisterly bond as an excuse to make her do something she didn't want to do. She firmly refused to cooperate. But Feng Bao was unwilling to give up and forcibly held Zhao Tan Tan, insisting on using the mirror. Cui Chen released the spirit of Feng Zhai, and upon learning that Cui Chen and Lotus Mark got married because Cui Chen had discovered an assailant behind Lotus Mark and used the Dongxu Sword Technique to kill the person without harming Lotus Mark, Feng Zhai couldn't believe it. Lotus Mark, however, thought that Cui Chen didn't trust her and would rather be condemned by the world with her life, so she asked Cui Chen to take him out of the secret chamber to persuade Feng Bao, who had a straightforward personality.
Feng Bao still refused to believe that Lotus Mark's death was not caused by Cui Chen. To prove that Cui Chen's Dongxu Sword Technique could pass through a body without harming the person, Zhao Tan Tan volunteered to be the subject of the experiment. Feng Bao couldn't bear to witness this and extinguished her obsession to prove that Zhao Tan Tan was Lotus Mark.
By the riverside, Zhao Tan Tan wanted to know who she really was in Cui Chen's eyes. Cui Chen felt that Zhao Tan Tan was a female hero from Xinhuai Village, his Junior Sister who was searching for the lotus seeds, and the person he deeply loved, the genuine Zhao Tan Tan.
Zhao Tan Tan was satisfied with Cui Chen's answer and finally made up her mind to look into the true mirror. She discovered a lotus mark on her forehead, confirming the intricate connection she had with Lotus Mark, which left her with mixed feelings. As Feng Zhai's spirit was about to dissipate, Feng Bao tearfully begged Cui Chen to keep Feng Zhai, but Cui Chen was powerless to do so.
Feng Zhai saw that Zhao Tan Tan and Feng Bao were both fine and felt relieved. He instructed Feng Bao to protect Wanfang City well before completely disappearing.
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