Good And Evil Episode 23 Recap
> Good And Evil Recap
Han Sheng confronted Chun Yao, asking why he avoided her, didn't meet her, and if he had feelings for her. Though Chun Yao secretly harbored deep affection for Han Sheng, he coldly stated that he allowed her to stay due to her mysterious identity, which was greatly important to the Hundred Spirits Lake, and because she owed him a debt. He maintained that his care for her was merely as his maid and disciple, urging her not to misunderstand.
Han Sheng questioned why he saved her on her wedding day if he had no feelings. Chun Yao explained that Si Mao had disguised himself as Lingjun, and he would have saved anyone from such a dangerous individual. Unconvinced, Han Sheng pointed to their shared experiences—catching White Fan, saving Little Mountain, and searching for Shen Ci—as evidence of his affection, claiming his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
Though Chun Yao secretly harbored deep affection for her, he then revealed the reason for his emotional distance. He explained that his spiritual power and hers were intrinsically repellent, absorbing hers and devouring her soul. He recalled how his spiritual power was suppressed whenever her destiny scroll was stabbed, and her two fainting spells (by the lake and in the Southern Pool Kingdom) led him to discover this dangerous incompatibility.
A witch later confirmed that this condition would worsen until her spiritual power was completely drained by him. Han Sheng realized this was why he had abandoned her in the Southern Pool Kingdom, a fact Chun Yao confirmed, though he regretted that she then fell into the hands of a demon king. Han Sheng passionately argued that his explanation was baseless, questioning how he could ignore their feelings due to a so-called destiny and insisting there must be a solution.
Chun Yao insisted they were not destined to be together and that she would eventually leave Hundred Spirits Lake to live a normal life. He advised her to control her feelings, asserting that the only solution was for them to stay far away from each other, as a human and a demon could never have a happy ending, even if the "repelling spiritual power" wasn't true.
He sternly warned that if she wished to remain at the lake, she should not appear before him again, and if she wished to leave, Kong Lan could assist her. Heartbroken, Han Sheng responded with a quiet "Fine, I heard you," apologized for disturbing him, and left, clutching the Laba congee she had prepared for him. Later, during the Laba Festival, Han Sheng, still distracted by her sorrow, almost ruined the congee she was helping Wushang prepare.
Wushang, along with Kong Lan, took over, their affectionate interactions further highlighting Han Sheng's loneliness. She then witnessed Si Tong snatch a bowl of Laba congee from a child. Enraged, Han Sheng tripped Si Tong, causing him to drop the congee he had intended to share with his master. Si Tong, furious, threatened to harm her, but Kong Lan and Wushang intervened and protected Han Sheng.
Passersby criticized Si Tong, calling him an ill-mannered "abandoned kid" and questioning how the righteous Wuyin could have raised such an ingrate. Kong Lan urged Si Tong to return home, lest his master worry. Si Tong limped back to Wuyin's residence, trying to sneak in, but Wuyin immediately sensed his trouble. Si Tong assumed Kong Lan had reported him, but Wuyin revealed that his injured hand had betrayed his mischief.
As Wuyin carefully treated Si Tong's hand, Si Tong confessed to stealing the congee and being called an "abandoned kid." He explained that he only wanted to share the Laba congee with Wuyin to help his master gain spiritual power. Wuyin decided it was time to reveal Si Tong's past. He recounted that 500 years ago, during a period of great chaos when numerous ghosts and evil spirits escaped from the Monsters and Demons Pool, he discovered infant Si Tong.
Si Tong's parents had sacrificed their lives protecting him, placing him on a lotus to purify the demonic Qi that had tainted his body. Wuyin then adopted and raised him. Si Tong expressed profound gratitude for Wuyin's rescue and upbringing, lamenting that he couldn't share the Laba congee with his master on such a special day. Wuyin then produced a basket containing two bowls of Laba congee, explaining they were gifts from the school children.
He advised Si Tong that things taken by force would never truly belong to him. Instead, he encouraged Si Tong to cultivate a compassionate heart, treat others kindly, and strive to dispel the demonic Qi within him, aspiring to be a person who helps others. Si Tong, however, reaffirmed that he only cared about Wuyin.
Meanwhile, Han Sheng, distraught by Chun Yao's words about their conflicting spiritual powers, unleashed a burst of magic, and shortly after, discovered an injured woman on the ground. Han Sheng quickly brought the severely wounded woman to Wuyin's pharmacy house. Wuyin speculated that the woman might have arrived by accident due to an unstable barrier. The woman awoke defensively, brandishing a dagger, but relaxed after Wuyin introduced himself, Han Sheng, and Si Tong.
Recognizing Wuyin, she dropped to her knees, pleading for his help. She introduced herself as Yueji, a scorpion demon from the desert who once supported herself by robbing camel caravans. She recounted falling in love with a man who had awoken after she drugged his caravan, only to discover he was a spirit hunter who secretly poisoned her wine.
He had told her the poison would spread and kill her after disfiguring her, prompting her desperate journey to Wuyin for healing. Si Tong immediately objected to keeping Yueji, citing her unknown identity and unverified story. Han Sheng, however, passionately argued for saving a life, reminding Si Tong of the boundless beneficence in compassion. Si Tong countered, suggesting that Han Sheng's intense care might indicate she was the one who injured Yueji.
Wuyin, agreeing to help and advising Si Tong to treat others as he wished to be treated, decided to let Yueji stay. Later, Si Tong discovered Yueji attempting to steal spiritual pills from Wuyin's pharmacy. He confronted her, branding her an evil scorpion and intending to end her life. Wuyin arrived just in time to stop him.
Yueji explained that she had learned people were unpredictable and feared Wuyin might go back on his word, so she took the pills for self-protection. Si Tong vehemently argued that her actions exposed her true nature and she should not be allowed to stay. Yueji, resigned, claimed she was dying anyway and didn't care if she was expelled or killed. Wuyin reassured her he would cure her, emphasizing that her true ailment was a heart that no longer trusted anyone.
He declared he would trust her one more time and hoped she could trust him as well. Wuyin then reminded Si Tong of his own teachings about kindness and cautioned him against judging Yueji so harshly. He explained that Yueji's "evil side" emerged because she had been hurt, calling her a "poor soul" deserving of another chance, just as Si Tong, despite being born with demonic Qi, could avoid a demonic path by consistently performing good deeds.
Feeling deeply hurt and misunderstood by the comparison, Si Tong accused Wuyin of seeing him as merely another "poor soul" and believing that Wuyin cared for him was "wishful thinking." He then ran off into the forest, where he encountered Lingjun, who took the opportunity to make his presence known and influence Si Tong.
Wuyin, left alone, later stood before the Goddess statue, pondering if he had made the right decisions in raising Si Tong, a Demonic Lotus, for centuries, still unable to fully purify his demonic Qi. After her frustrating encounter with Chun Yao, Han Sheng sought Wuyin's advice. Wuyin noticed her distress and compassionately offered solace. Han Sheng then asked him what one should do if they love someone who constantly avoids and pushes them away.
Wuyin wisely suggested that sometimes, rejection can actually be a sign of deep love. He advised her that while she couldn't control others' thoughts, she knew her own heart, and if she was in love, she should pursue it, as even a saint would. Han Sheng understood and decided to concoct medicine for Yueji, feeling guilty for her earlier injury.
She then went to Chun Yao's residence, calling out to him, expressing her disbelief that the "repelling spiritual power" excuse could fool her, and demanding he stop avoiding her. Kong Lan's voice from within Chun Yao's chamber announced that he was in closed-door cultivation after repairing the barrier and shouldn't be disturbed.
Han Sheng, frustrated by Chun Yao's continued avoidance, retorted that one could never wake a person who was only pretending to be in closed-door cultivation, declaring that he could stay inside forever and never see her again before leaving. Later, Si Tong, still disturbed by persistent "nightmares" of Lingjun, saw Han Sheng outside making medicine. Han Sheng was concocting medicine for Yueji, driven by compassion and a sense of guilt, while also waiting for Chun Yao.
Misinterpreting the situation, Si Tong concluded that Wuyin had allowed Yueji to stay only because of Han Sheng. He then maliciously tricked Han Sheng by removing firewood, prompting her to enter the woodshed to fetch more. Once she was inside, he promptly cast a lock spell to trap her. Han Sheng realized she was confined and couldn't break the spell for 24 hours, angrily vowing to confront whoever had locked her in once she got out.
