Dance of the Phoenix Episode 21 Recap
> Dance of the Phoenix Recap
Feng Wu waited for Jun Linyuan through the night at her residence, but he never arrived. Unbeknownst to her, Jun Linyuan was confined to Junwu Divine Hall, tending to the Holy Sovereign. Losing patience, Feng Wu decided to visit the Library Pavilion to read and check on Supervisor Wu Youdao. Upon her arrival, however, she discovered Dean Ning murdered.
She immediately called for help, but Gao Wei, who was patrolling with soldiers, arrived and, seeing her at the scene, arrested her as a suspect and confined her to the detention room. News of the murder reached Junwu Divine Hall, where Jun Linyuan vehemently argued against Feng Wu's guilt, refusing to believe she would commit such an act. However, Zuo Qingluan interjected, noting that Feng Wu's disposition had drastically changed from before.
She recalled Feng Wu's extraordinary display of spiritual energy during their past duel, implying that Feng Wu might be more powerful than people assumed, and therefore, a potential match for Dean Ning. She also pointed out that with all high-level spiritual masters summoned following the Holy Sovereign's poisoning, there were no other immediate suspects, making Feng Wu the primary one. Meanwhile, in the detention room, Feng Wu asserted her innocence, stating Dean Ning was already dead when she arrived.
Gao Wei presented a witness who claimed to have seen Feng Wu near the Library Pavilion an hour earlier. Feng Wu countered that her maid could confirm she was at her residence, but the maid's testimony was quickly dismissed. Zuo Qingluan, in a private conversation with the Holy Queen, confided that she knew Feng Wu was innocent. She had secretly followed Dean Ning to the Library Pavilion to consult ancient texts and had discovered his body before Feng Wu.
Seizing the opportunity, Zuo Qingluan decided to frame Feng Wu, seeing her as a major threat. She also saw the Holy Sovereign's illness as a chance to clear hidden obstacles within Junwu Academy. She was tasked by the Holy Queen to monitor Jun Linyuan. Word spread quickly through Junwu Academy, with students widely believing Feng Wu to be Dean Ning's killer, fueled by Mu Yao's deliberate rumors. Feng Xun and their friends refused to believe it but felt powerless.
Learning that Feng Wu was held in the detention room, a place reportedly filled with charms that suppressed spiritual energy, Yu Mingye immediately went to rescue her. Feng Wu refused to leave, explaining that fleeing would only solidify her guilt and implicate her mother and friends. Instead, she handed Yu Mingye her hair tie, asking him to seek out Jun Linyuan, believing that only together could they devise a plan to clear her name.
Yu Mingye, taking the hair tie, stormed into Junwu Divine Hall, injuring several guards in the process. Jun Linyuan, recognizing the hair tie and understanding Yu Mingye's purpose, intervened, claiming Yu Mingye as his friend to shield him from Zuo Qingluan’s accusations of ill intent. Just then, the Holy Sovereign, having recovered, woke up.
He expressed his pleasure that Jun Linyuan had made a new friend besides Feng Xun and Xuan Yi, granting Jun Linyuan the freedom to go with Yu Mingye. Jun Linyuan and Yu Mingye then discussed how to help Feng Wu. Yu Mingye had already formulated a plan: to "lure the snake out of its hole" by publicly announcing that Dean Ning had survived and was recuperating in Wenyuan Pavilion.
The murderer, upon hearing their target was still alive, would undoubtedly return to finish the job. Jun Linyuan, though initially skeptical, agreed to cooperate. As expected, Jun Linyuan and Yu Mingye waited in Wenyuan Pavilion and soon confronted a black-clad figure wearing a dark bamboo hat. The assailant demonstrated exceptional spiritual prowess, employing techniques from various sects. Recognizing they were no match individually, Jun Linyuan and Yu Mingye united their strength, managing to tear off the figure's hat.
To their astonishment, the assailant was revealed to be Supervisor Wu Youdao. Wu Youdao openly confessed to killing Dean Ning. He then took Gao Wei hostage, demanding that Feng Wu be brought to him at the Library Pavilion. Outside the Library Pavilion, Spiritual Elder Fang intervened, emphasizing that a direct assault would inevitably damage the invaluable historical texts housed within and that they should rely on Feng Wu. Jun Linyuan, worried for Feng Wu, proposed going in with her, unarmed.
Wu Youdao agreed, albeit only for Jun Linyuan, dismissing Yu Mingye. Jun Linyuan and Feng Wu then entered the Library Pavilion hand-in-hand. Inside, Wu Youdao was gazing at a painting of Sima Yunniang, the only female teacher in Junwu Academy's history, whom Jun Linyuan recognized as his former sword-fighting instructor. Wu Youdao then revealed his deep connection to Yunniang, disclosing that she was his beloved.
He recounted a thirty-five-year-old grievance: the invitation for the Junwu Academy Dean's position was originally sent to him, but Ning Shien stole it, boasting that his Junwu lineage made him more suitable. When Wu Youdao threatened to expose him, Ning Shien leveraged Yunniang, promising to help her achieve her lifelong aspiration of becoming the academy's first female teacher, but only if Wu Youdao stepped aside. For Yunniang's sake, Wu Youdao endured the injustice.
He left Junwu Academy and embarked on a journey across the Qianyuan Continent, where he fortuitously discovered one of Mu Jiuzhou’s manuscripts, which detailed the spiritual techniques of various sects. This knowledge allowed him to become one of Qianyuan Continent’s foremost Spiritual Elders. However, Yunniang later resigned due to ideological differences with the academy, retreating to the Library Pavilion for solitary cultivation, only to perish in a fire ten years prior, with no trace of her body found.
The unresolved grief and simmering rage finally drove Wu Youdao back to Junwu Academy to exact his revenge on Ning Shien. Jun Linyuan and Feng Wu urged Wu Youdao to surrender, hoping he might receive leniency. Wu Youdao, however, expressed no desire for forgiveness, having long prepared for his own death. He explained his true purpose in summoning them: he knew Feng Wu was Mu Jiuzhou's disciple and thus considered her part of the same lineage.
He also respected Jun Linyuan for his loyalty and as Yunniang's former student, vowing not to harm either of them. Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, Wu Youdao activated a hidden mechanism, trapping them in an underground secret chamber where spiritual energy was rendered useless. As Wu Youdao continued his rampage outside, vowing to destroy Junwu Academy and reunite with Yunniang, Jun Linyuan and Feng Wu searched for an exit.
Jun Linyuan speculated that this might be the secret cultivation chamber established by Mu Jiuzhou when he founded Junwu Academy. Feng Wu then confessed that she was indeed Mu Jiuzhou's disciple, explaining that she had kept it a secret to avoid bringing shame to him due to her own perceived lack of talent. She revealed that all her efforts had been dedicated to awakening him. Jun Linyuan, understanding her motivations, assured her he didn't blame her.
He acknowledged that the world's energy barrier, established by Mu Jiuzhou, was weakening and concluded that awakening him was likely the only way to repair it. He pledged his full support to Feng Wu in her mission. Together, they continued their search, eventually discovering a depiction of Mu Jiuzhou on the chamber wall.
