Episode 21 recap: The Elderly Master Conspires with the Young Rascal
In episode 21, Bai Li Dong Jun's taste for the jianghu (martial arts world) returned. He mused that the jianghu only became lively because of people like them. Yue Yao decided to stay at the inn to lay low, due to the lingering resentment between her master Liu Yue and the Tang Clan. Ye Ding Zhi escorted Dong Jun and Li Chang Sheng to the Tang Clan's doors, then left, with no one knowing when they'd meet again.
As they were talking, someone suddenly attacked Bai Li Dong Jun. While Dong Jun fended them off, he wondered where Li Chang Sheng had disappeared to. Just as he was about to rush in to look for him, Wen Hu Jiu also arrived in a hurry. The two decided to go in together, but the Tang Clan's doors were like an impenetrable fortress, guarded by the formidable Tanglie Yue.
Wen Hu Jiu presented an invitation, hoping to schmooze, but the guard wasn't having it. Dong Jun was anxious, as he couldn't openly state Li Chang Sheng's identity. Wen Hu Jiu was also confused, but guessed the other side wouldn't do anything reckless, since the big poison trial was happening the next day.
Meanwhile, Yue Yao decided to visit her elder sister Yin Luoxia instead of going to the Tang Clan. She bragged about becoming Liu Yue's disciple and spilled all the secrets of Tianqi City to her sister. Yin Luoxia, now curious about Yue Yao's feelings for Bai Li Dong Jun, but Yue Yao was too flustered to give a straight answer.
The day of the poison trial soon arrived. The earlier skirmishes were just appetizers - the main course was the showdown between the five major poison sects' top experts. Wen Hu Jiu spotted the Medicine King at the venue, and the longtime rivals immediately locked horns in a verbal sparring match even more thrilling than the poison trial itself. Dong Jun also reunited with Si Kong Chang Feng, feeling a bit reassured.
As the competition began, Tang Clan Master Tang Linghuang explained the rules. The Tang Clan held back, letting the other sects go first. The first contestant, a female warrior, had her sword coated in poison, but was swiftly defeated by a "Tang Clan bandit" without the poison even activating. Then it was Wen Hu Jiu's turn - his opponent suddenly collapsed, crying foul over Wen Hu Jiu's "ruthless" poison.
Dong Jun recognized the voice - it was Li Chang Sheng! Even Tang Linghuang was taken aback, but Li Chang Sheng coolly introduced himself as Nan Gong Chun Shui. The elderly Master Tang was clearly delighted, fully understanding what was happening.
Tang Linghuang cleared the arena, and Li Chang Sheng offered to give a demonstration. He unleashed stunning martial arts, overwhelming both Tang Linghuang and Wen Hu Jiu. The gleeful Master Tang watched from the sidelines as Li Chang Sheng brazenly challenged the Tang Clan's deadliest techniques.
Dong Jun was utterly bewildered, as Tang Linghuang's peerless "Flower Blizzard" failed to faze Li Chang Sheng, who had mastered both Taoist and Buddhist martial arts. Wen Hu Jiu teamed up with Tang Linghuang, combining the "Three-Character Scripture" and "Pear Blossom Needles", but to no avail. At the critical moment, Li Chang Sheng called for the elderly Master to come out - to save him, Dong Jun absorbed all the poisons himself.
That's when he saw the legendary Mo Yi, who said he had come to bid farewell, and asked Dong Jun to look after his disciples. Then Mo Yi's spirit departed. Li Chang Sheng then enacted a family reunion, claiming a woman as his wife, until he recited a poem that made her realize the truth.
Li Chang Sheng returned to the arena, completed the trial, and lay down, revealing that everything had been a scheme orchestrated with the elderly Master Tang. The Medicine King, learning that Li Chang Sheng wanted to "lose face" because he was weary of the lonely immortality, was deeply amused.
Comments(Episode 21)