Ever Night Episode 22 Recap, Plot

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Master Yan Se, a distinguished member of the south branch of Sect Haotian, engaged in a heated debate with Crane Huang, a "disciple nephew," concerning Ning Que's future. Yan Se adamantly argued that Ning Que, despite his low cultivation, possessed unique potential in talisman skills and was better suited to be his student rather than entering the Academy's Second Floor.

He wielded the State Preceptor's token, asserting his right to oppose on behalf of the south branch, and fiercely declared that he had discovered Ning Que first, vowing to fight anyone who tried to take the young man. Crane Huang, however, stood firm, highlighting that the Academy, backed by its own talisman masters, would not readily relinquish a talent like Ning Que.

Resorting to a comical display of stubbornness, Yan Se dismissed his own prestige and even feigned a bizarre, flatulent fit to disrupt the conversation, signaling his unwavering refusal to yield. Crane Huang, exasperated, noted that unlike the Emperor or the Hierarch of the West Shrine, the Academy would not be swayed by such antics. Meanwhile, a defeated Long Qing expressed his profound confusion and inability to accept his loss to Ning Que.

He lamented that despite his efforts to achieve absolute indifference to emotion and a firm will towards Tao, he still felt an internal struggle. He questioned how Ning Que, a seemingly faithless "nobody," could conquer fear when he could not. In response, Jun Mo advised him that not all fears can be conquered and that Ning Que's faith might simply reside deep in his heart, cryptically telling Long Qing to consider his future path carefully.

Seizing the opportunity, Prince Li Peiyan proposed a compromise: Prince Long Qing would enter the Second Floor, while Ning Que would become a disciple of Master Yan Se. Li Peiyan argued this would satisfy both the Tang State and the West Shrine. Yan Se, eager to secure Ning Que, promised to treat him as his own child and impart all his knowledge, a path Li Peiyan suggested could lead Ning Que to become the future State Preceptor of Tang.

Yan Se immediately set off to discuss this with Jun Mo, who was overseeing the Academy in the Sage's absence. Master Yan Se approached Jun Mo to secure Ning Que as his disciple. Yan Se initially attempted to intimidate Jun Mo with a talisman array, but Jun Mo effortlessly countered his efforts, stating that he preferred reasoning over conflict.

When Jun Mo asked if he sought a successor for his talisman skills or a future State Preceptor, Yan Se declared he desired both for Ning Que. Jun Mo then revealed the Sage's prescient decision: Ning Que could indeed become Master Yan Se's disciple, but only "after" successfully ascending to the Second Floor. Crucially, Jun Mo emphasized that the ultimate decision rested with Ning Que himself.

Master Yan Se was deeply moved by the Sage's wisdom and magnanimity, acknowledging his own inferiority and expressing admiration for the Academy's principle of teaching based on aptitude, regardless of affiliation. Ning Que awoke in an unfamiliar room, disoriented and believing he was still hallucinating until Sang Sang assured him that he had indeed won and entered the Second Floor the previous night.

Soon after, the Twelfth Senior Brother informed Ning Que, now the Thirteenth Senior Brother, that Prince Li Peiyan wished to see him. The Prince offered him an opportunity to withdraw from the Academy for an alternative path. During the conversation, Ning Que recognized Li Peiyan as the man Yan Suqing had identified before his death—the "younger brother of His Majesty" who presided over the unjust case of General Lin Guangyuan.

A surge of hatred coursed through Ning Que, but he suppressed it, realizing the time for revenge was not yet ripe. When Li Peiyan tried to entice him with the promise of becoming the next State Preceptor, Ning Que politely declined, stating that as an Academy student, his future would be guided by the Sage, and promptly departed.

Conflicted about his path, Ning Que sought advice from Pippi Chen, who playfully suggested that he could be both a disciple of the Sage and Master Yan Se's head disciple. When Ning Que accused him of setting him up, Pippi Chen comically reminded him of all the help he had provided, from aiding his entry to the Second Floor to giving him cultivation pills and saving his life.

Pippi Chen then jokingly warned Ning Que, now a Second Floor student, to stop calling him "fat friend." Following this, Ning Que was congratulated by his fellow Academy students. Wang Ying sincerely apologized for having doubted Ning Que's character, an apology Ning Que graciously accepted. Xie Chengyun, a scholar from South Jin, expressed his admiration for Ning Que as he prepared to return home.

When Chu Zhongtian admitted that Ning Que's victory felt like a "humiliation" to them, Ning Que firmly rejected the notion. He stated that his sole objective was to reach the Second Floor, not to surpass Long Qing or anyone else. However, he added that if his success incidentally made them feel humiliated, he was "glad to see that," and urged them to maintain their "pride," a quality he described as precious to the Tang people.

Immediately after, Master Yan Se and Master Crane Huang arrived. Yan Se lauded Ning Que's insightful words and then formally stated his intention to take Ning Que as his disciple in the south branch of Sect Haotian. A surprised Ning Que expressed his honor but questioned why Yan Se was so confident in his potential, fearing he might disappoint.

Yan Se dismissed his concerns, declaring that if Ning Que could defeat Prince Long Qing, there was nothing to be disappointed about, and eagerly instructed him to report to the south branch the very next day. Eunuch Lin arrived from the palace, conveying the Emperor's wish to meet Ning Que. To verify his identity, Eunuch Lin tested Ning Que by asking him to complete the couplet "Flowers blossom in nirvana."

Ning Que unhesitatingly responded with "Fish jump out of the sea on this occasion," confirming he was the author of the renowned calligraphy. Before departing for the Imperial Palace, Ning Que asked Eunuch Lin to escort Sang Sang home to the Old Brush Studio in Alley 47. He then swiftly took down his calligraphy from the walls, instructing Sang Sang to guard them meticulously, as they were not just art but "money" that would bring them great wealth.

Meanwhile, multiple plots against Ning Que's life were set in motion. Priest Cheng Lixue confronted Prince Li Peiyan, expressing severe disappointment from the West Shrine over Long Qing's defeat. Insisting that anyone who insulted their sect "must die," he urged Li Peiyan to act. Li Peiyan promptly commanded his guards to "eliminate Ning Que." In a separate development, a general, presumably under Xia Hou's authority, also ordered an assassination.

When his subordinate hesitated, citing Xia Hou's prior instructions not to act rashly, the general overruled him and ordered his men to kill Ning Que that very night. As Ning Que prepared to meet the Emperor, he considered appealing for justice in General Lin Guangyuan's case. Eunuch Lin, initially cautious, reassured him that as the Thirteenth Senior Brother, he was an exception to the rule against discussing court matters, and lauded the Emperor as a most wise and merciful ruler.

Upon entering the palace, the Emperor warmly welcomed Ning Que, dismissing all formalities. He revealed his own long-held desire to have been the Sage's disciple, a dream relinquished when he was instead guided to the throne. The Emperor expressed kinship with Ning Que but issued a subtle warning: as a "Man out of the World" and a disciple of the Sage, he was bound by the rule not to "interfere in policies."

Breaking this rule would mean expulsion from the Academy and enmity from the entire Tang State, implicitly closing the door on any appeal for justice. Princess Li Yu then arrived, expressing her delight at her father's joy. She revealed her prior acquaintance with Ning Que, describing their shared journey as forging a "life and death" bond.

She praised his calligraphy, noting how his "Flowers blossom in nirvana" complemented her father's own line, and playfully shared Ning Que's old title from Wei City: "the woodcutter of Shubi Lake," known for his skill in cutting "waste wood"—a euphemism for dealing with idiots. As her brother Li Hunyuan had been Ning Que's classmate, she suggested Ning Que could guide him further. The Emperor eagerly agreed, instructing Ning Que to "teach him some lessons" and even "beat him" if necessary, further cementing Ning Que's position within the royal family's trust.

Episode 21 Recap

Episode 23 Recap