Episode 30 recap: Zhang Qi Ling Meets His Mother Bai Ma
In episode 30, an ancient scroll reveals a precious and distant memory of Zhang Qi Ling. It’s the first time he recalls fragments of his childhood: in a dream, a gentle woman cradles a crying baby, while those around her softly call her Bai Ma. Zhang Qi Ling clearly sees the face of his young mother and the small black mole on her neck, a mark indelibly etched in his memory.
He makes a request to the clan leader to meet a woman named Bai Ma. The leader is taken aback; they know Bai Ma as the woman who once entered the training ground alone to retrieve Zhang Qi Ling, who had been taken by the Zhang family. Bai Ma understood that the Zhang family had abducted children for the sake of the藏海花 (藏海花), and she vehemently opposed it, believing the Zhang family was not a place for a child to find happiness.
She pleaded with the training ground to allow her to be preserved in the藏海花, as she was gravely ill and nearing death. She hoped that through the藏海花, Zhang Qi Ling would one day find her presence and feel the enduring love of a mother. She believed that when Zhang Qi Ling faced misfortune within the Zhang family, he would seek out his origins, giving him a chance to "see" her instead of a cold corpse.
Despite the clan’s reluctance to let Bai Ma take such a risk, her three days and nights of kneeling moved the clan leader, who ultimately allowed her to consume the藏海花 and be sealed in an ice coffin. Upon learning this, Zhang Qi Ling was filled with a deep yearning to see his mother. The leader reminded him that Bai Ma might now be like a sleeping statue, much like Zhang Qi Ling himself, with an untroubled heart.
Thus, the leader instructed Zhang Qi Ling to carve a statue of his mother in the center of the training ground as a way to express his longing. Day after day, from dawn to dusk, Zhang Qi Ling chiseled away, each stroke imbued with deep affection, capturing the essence of the Bai Ma from his dreams. Seasons changed, and he never paused until the statue gradually took shape, lifelike and vivid.
Moved by this, the leader unearthed the sleeping Bai Ma. Though her senses were dulled, she could feel Zhang Qi Ling’s presence and smiled gently. Although they exchanged no words, their hearts connected. Zhang Qi Ling held his mother’s hand tightly, feeling as if they were walking together across a snowfield, enveloped in tranquility and beauty, leaving him enchanted.
However, their reunion was brief, and Bai Ma ultimately passed away. With tears in his eyes, Zhang Qi Ling buried his mother. He picked up his chisel again but felt utterly powerless; tears streamed down his face as he set down the tool and curled up in despair, filled with longing for her. In the end, he completed the statue and silently left the training ground, heading into the unknown.
Wuxie treasures this scroll, which records Zhang Qi Ling’s softest memories. By the campfire, he tells his friends from Yinshi about his encounter with Zhang Qi Ling. At that time, Zhang Qi Ling was enduring great suffering while helping others.
By chance, they formed a bond, sharing a similar temperament. Yet, Zhang Qi Ling’s extraordinary abilities drew the attention of nine families who sought to exploit him. Wuxie experienced many dangers alongside Zhang Qi Ling, who urged him to stay away from trouble. However, young Wuxie, filled with curiosity, could not understand.
When they met again, Zhang Qi Ling had completed a mission and was about to head to the Three Sacred Snow Mountains. Wuxie wanted to accompany him but nearly lost his life due to his insufficient abilities, only to be saved by Zhang Qi Ling. Zhang Qi Ling revealed secrets about the nine families and the bronze door he guarded. As the last clan leader, he resolutely took on this heavy burden, refusing to involve Wuxie in danger.
This sacrifice and sense of responsibility left Wuxie with lasting guilt and gratitude.
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