Dance of the Sky Empire Episode 3 Recap
> Dance of the Sky Empire Recap
Following up on their last encounter, Su Youlian was flustered by Li Xuan's assumption that she harbored feelings for him, retorting that he was shameless. When Li Xuan accused her of initiating contact, she vehemently called him out again before leaving in frustration. Back in her room, Su Youlian reported to her master, the Sword Spirit, that she had failed to obtain the token, consciously omitting the details of her incident with Li Xuan.
Just then, Cui Yanran arrived to invite Su Youlian to the Moyun Academy's welcome party. Curious about the human world, Su Youlian was eager to attend, but the Sword Spirit sternly reminded her of her mission to find the Dragon Emperor as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Lord Zi once again used his magic to restrain Li Xuan.
Li Xuan refused to accept the number one token, knowing it was the sole key to the Secret Realm where the Dragon Emperor was sealed, and that possessing it would make him a target. He also felt unqualified to protect it. Lord Zi, aware of Li Xuan's reluctance, used his authority as the Nation-protecting Master and the promise of allowing Li Xuan to leave the city to search for his mother as leverage.
He instructed Li Xuan to stay and diligently study magic at the academy for the next ten years, after which Lord Zi assured him he would be free. The welcome party was bustling with excitement. Su Youlian marveled at her surroundings, and Cui Yanran, despite her sister Cui Pianran's obvious disapproval, warmly befriended her. As students mingled, a commotion erupted when Yunshan ran into the hall, loudly accusing Xiao Fengming of harassing her.
Though Xiao Fengming admired Yunshan, he denied any intentional misconduct, explaining he had accidentally bumped into her while engrossed in a book. Cui Pianran and Li Xuan spoke up in Xiao Fengming's defense, but he seemed more focused on appeasing Yunshan, only apologizing to her. Cui Pianran and Li Xuan shook their heads in exasperation at his perceived foolishness.
Just then, the Crown Prince made a grand entrance, encouraging everyone to study hard before dismissing his guards to enjoy the festivities informally with the students. The evening's performances were impressive. When the crowd clamored for Cui Pianran, renowned for her dancing, she feigned modesty before gracefully accepting. Her light gauze dance captivated everyone, earning applause even from the Crown Prince. As Cui Pianran exited, she noticed Li Xuan glance at Su Youlian, sparking intense jealousy.
Driven by a desire to humiliate her rival, Cui Pianran provocatively challenged Su Youlian to perform. Su Youlian initially declined, but Li Xuan's mocking comments spurred her to accept the challenge. She danced with remarkable fluidity, earning widespread applause. A furious Cui Pianran then snatched the drumstick, intending to test Su Youlian's ability to handle the challenging Lingyun Song. The Lingyun Song was powerful and complex, yet Su Youlian danced flawlessly, astonishing the entire audience.
Li Xuan watched, transfixed, as fragments of familiar images flashed through his mind, though he couldn't grasp their meaning. Before he could ponder further, the Lingyun Song reached its climax. Everyone held their breath as Su Youlian completed the piece without a single misstep. A frustrated Cui Pianran threw down the drumstick and stormed off, leaving Su Youlian as the undeniable star of the night.
Later, still mindful of Li Xuan's past abduction of him, the Crown Prince seized an opportunity while Li Xuan's guard, Feng Changqing, was absent. He abruptly ordered his men to seize Li Xuan, who was quickly bundled into a sack. Li Xuan tried a trick to escape, but blinded, he fell back into the Prince's hands. The Prince commanded his men to take Li Xuan away to be buried alive, a scene witnessed by a curious Su Youlian.
Li Xuan, playing for time, tried to appeal to the Prince's sense of reason and compassion. As the Prince hesitated, Su Youlian intervened. She warned the Prince about the academy's impending ward, which would prevent outsiders from leaving. The Prince, not inherently malicious, pondered this and decided to release Li Xuan, departing with his men. After the Prince left, Su Youlian continued what he had started, burying Li Xuan up to his neck.
Li Xuan desperately called for help, but Su Youlian was unmoved, demanding he hand over the number one token. Li Xuan, feigning weakness, dramatically pretended to faint. Fearing he might genuinely be in distress, Su Youlian quickly dug him out of the dirt and attempted to give him air via the breath-transfer method. As Su Youlian leaned in, Li Xuan "woke up" and immediately accused her of secretly kissing him, shamelessly inviting her to "take advantage" of his helpless state.
Stunned by his brazenness, Su Youlian fled in disgust. The next day, Li Xuan, accompanied by his guards, Chang Sheng and Chang Qing, boldly entered the classroom. He brazenly took someone else's seat, settling directly behind Su Youlian, intent on bothering her. Su Youlian, however, chose to ignore him. Moments later, Mentor Xuan Ming arrived to begin his lesson.
He recounted the great battle between the human and Kunwu clans, portraying the Kunwu Dragon Emperor, Shi Xingyu, as exceptionally cruel and violent, while elevating Lord Zi to heroic status. Su Youlian was internally shocked to hear how distorted the history of the battle had become in the human realm.
