Good And Evil Episode 1 Recap
> Good And Evil Recap
Immortal Spring Water was tasked with guarding the River of Forget in Heaven, where numerous demons were imprisoned. For tens of thousands of years, he remained steadfast in his duty. One day, feeling lonely, he shaped his shadow into a human figure to play chess with, but the shadow remained incorporeal, without form or emotion. Si Mao, a Fallen Immortal Northern Dipper Lord imprisoned at the river's bottom, learned of Spring Water's plight.
She made a deal, lending Spring Water 108 breaths of immortality to sculpt a body of stars for the shadow. Spring Water then infused half of his own soul into it, thus creating Goddess Hantan. From then on, Immortal Spring Water was no longer solitary, spending his days playing chess and guqin with Hantan, living a leisurely life. However, Si Mao benefited greatly, absorbing the immortal spirit and dramatically increasing her power.
She forcibly broke the magic barrier, causing the River of Forget to pour down into the human world, allowing many demons to escape and wreak havoc. Spring Water and Si Mao engaged in a fierce battle, during which Si Mao transformed further into a demon. Goddess Hantan sacrificed herself to shield Spring Water from Si Mao's attack, dying in the process. The Heavenly Emperor was enraged.
He accused Spring Water of perverting the rules for personal gain and leading Si Mao to rebellion, resulting in the demons' escape. Spring Water accepted the blame. The Heavenly Emperor decreed that Goddess Hantan would be reincarnated into the human world, while Immortal Spring Water would be stripped of his celestial status, reduced to a half-demon, half-immortal, and condemned to guard the newly formed Hundred Spirits Lake for a thousand years to prevent demons from harming humans.
They were forbidden to ever see each other again, under threat of tragic ends if they defied this order. Spring Water accepted the punishment, and Hantan, before her reincarnation, promised she would be there when he returned. Nine hundred years later, the River of Forget's waters, having poured down from Heaven, had formed the Hundred Spirits Lake in the human world—a secluded habitat for spirits.
Chun Yao, the former Spring Water, now resided there, stripped of his heavenly memories, guarding the lake for over nine centuries. Goddess Hantan had undergone countless reincarnations, and in this life, she was Han Sheng, a princess of Northland, but widely believed to be cursed. In the Northland Imperial Palace, the King consulted the High Priest about Heaven's will. The Oracle advised against warring with Southland and suggested a royal marriage to foster good relations.
The King claimed to have no princesses, but the High Priest reminded him of Princess Han Sheng, who was born in a coffin on the day of Cold Dew, a birth that led to her mother's death and a three-year drought. Deeming her an ominous presence detrimental to the kingdom, the High Priest recommended sending her to Southland on the mid-July day to reverse the kingdom's ill fortune.
Palace maids gossiped about Han Sheng, calling her the "coffin-birth princess" and "unlucky" because she cast no shadow, advising others to hurry past her. Han Sheng's cat, Charcoal, led her to a spot in the garden, digging up a package of jewelry. Han Sheng believed Charcoal knew she was leaving and had gathered travel money for her. Before she could collect them, guards rushed in, accusing her of stealing lost palace valuables and catching her red-handed.
Han Sheng protested her innocence and fled, pursued by the guards. Charcoal instantly transformed into a giant cat, terrifying the guards, who fled in panic. The next day, a Nanny, unconvinced by the demon story, arrived with guards and a spell to confront the "demon cat." Han Sheng urged Charcoal to run, offering herself for punishment instead. The Nanny, wielding a whip, began to flog Han Sheng. Charcoal, distressed, bit the Nanny, who then brutally whipped Charcoal to death.
Heartbroken, Han Sheng cradled her dead cat. Charcoal's soul, no longer a mere kitten but a cocoon-like spirit, then flew towards the Hundred Spirits Lake. Meanwhile, at the Hundred Spirits Lake, Chun Yao was being dressed by his attendant, Bai Shan. He perceived Charcoal's soul returning, sensing its suffering in the human world. He gently guided the soul, transforming it into a destiny scroll, and instructed it to be placed in the Pavilion of Destinies.
The day for Han Sheng's arranged marriage to the old King of Southland approached, set for mid-July, the day when spirits roamed freely. Han Sheng understood her father was using her to pass her bad luck onto the Southland king. Determined not to marry a stranger, she tried various ways to escape her carriage, attempting to sever her bonds, then feigning hunger, thirst, and the call of nature, and finally threatening suicide.
She eventually tumbled out of the carriage to find her accompanying guards gone, with only Bai Shan present. Han Sheng pleaded for mercy. Bai Shan used her magic to free Han Sheng from her bonds, offered to help her, and requested to borrow the carriage. Han Sheng, realizing the situation, fled on foot. At the Hundred Spirits Lake, Bai Shan ventured to the Monsters and Demons Pool, a forbidden area, to mourn her deceased husband, A'Su.
There, Si Mao appeared before her, stating their acquaintance stretched back almost a thousand years, hinting she knew her before her human incarnation, which Bai Shan denied. Si Mao then revealed that Chun Yao was responsible for A'Su's death. She offered Bai Shan a way to resurrect A'Su: Bai Shan must leave the Hundred Spirits Lake on this night of mid-July. Si Mao's words implied her presence within Bai Shan: "You fool.
White Fan, I know a way to bring A'Su back to life." On the mid-July night, Chun Yao, being attended to by Bai Shan, was reminded that it was the day spirits could roam. He instructed Kong Lan, a peacock demon, to oversee the spirits' departure, ensuring they did not disturb the human world. He also reiterated that Charcoal's destiny scroll should be placed in the Pavilion of Destinies.
Chun Yao cautioned Bai Shan about the dangers of the Monsters and Demons Pool on such a night due to the heightened activity of evil beings, if she planned to visit A'Su. Bai Shan expressed her gratitude for his concern. As Kong Lan registered the spirits leaving the lake, Chun Yao discovered a Mouse Demon attempting to steal its destiny scroll to flee to the human world.
Chun Yao ordered severe punishment for the Mouse Demon, consigning it to the Fire Cauldron. Seizing this moment of distraction, Bai Shan, along with her and A'Su's destiny scrolls, managed to slip past Kong Lan and escape the Hundred Spirits Lake. Meanwhile, Han Sheng, having fled from Bai Shan, found herself inexplicably walking in circles. Terrified by the roaming spirits, she inadvertently stumbled into the entrance of the Hundred Spirits Lake.
She was captivated by the beautiful scenery, believing she had entered a fairyland. She saw Chun Yao sleeping serenely on a boat and was instantly struck by his handsome appearance. Overwhelmed by nerves and the unfamiliar surroundings, she fainted after tripping. Later, Chun Yao discovered Han Sheng. He ordered Kong Lan to investigate her identity. Kong Lan reported that she was a mortal and suggested killing her.
However, Kong Lan also revealed Bai Shan's escape with destiny scrolls and noted Bai Shan's aura on Han Sheng, indicating they had met. Chun Yao delved into Han Sheng's memories, confirming that Bai Shan had indeed used Han Sheng's carriage to escape to the human world. Concluding that Han Sheng was now useless and knowing that no mortal had ever left the Hundred Spirits Lake alive, Chun Yao moved to strangle her.
As his hand closed around her neck, Chun Yao experienced a choking sensation himself, forcing him to release her. Kong Lan then pointed out a striking similarity: Han Sheng, like Chun Yao, cast no shadow. Chun Yao pondered who this enigmatic mortal truly was.
