Ever Night Episode 30 Recap, Plot

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Ning Que informed Sang Sang he had to embark on a long journey to a place even farther than Weicheng, for an undisclosed period. Sang Sang, guessing it was an important mission from the Academy or a secret operation from the Emperor, expressed concern about the cold climate and suggested packing their newly smoked bacon. However, Ning Que insisted he must go alone, entrusting Sang Sang to look after their home and shop.

Shortly after, an invitation arrived from Princess Li Yu, requesting Ning Que and Sang Sang to dine at her mansion, which Ning Que seemed to anticipate. Meanwhile, Xia Tian thanked the Emperor of Tang for assigning Ning Que to lead the Academy disciples to the Badlands instead of deploying Tang troops. She acknowledged it as a valuable opportunity for the young cultivators to gain practical experience.

The Emperor noted a sweet taste in his medicinal decoction, correctly guessing Xia Tian had added candy. Xia Tian affirmed that the Emperor had chosen Ning Que because he was the Sage's direct disciple, praising the Sage's open-mindedness and equal treatment of all, including her own people from the wilderness. She implied that without the Sage, her relationship with the Emperor would not have been possible.

At the Princess's mansion, Li Yu dismissed her attendants to speak with Ning Que privately. Forgoing pleasantries, Li Yu directly questioned if he had to go to the Badlands. Ning Que asserted it was his responsibility, a statement that surprised Li Yu. She explained that Second Floor cultivators could be excused from such field trips, but Ning Que insisted he wanted to go.

Li Yu acknowledged his fame as the Wood Chopper of Shubi Lake but warned him that the Badlands would present far greater threats, listing formidable opponents from West Shrine, South Jin Sword Pavilion, State Yuelun, and Mochi Garden. When Ning Que asked if she feared he might be bullied, Li Yu revealed she had prepared a memorial to persuade the Emperor to revoke his order.

However, Ning Que declined, stating the trip was a rare opportunity to fulfill his ambition, which he reframed as positive "motivation" or "vision." Before leaving, Ning Que asked Li Yu to look after Sang Sang. Li Yu promised to make anyone who hurt Sang Sang "suffer," to which Ning Que chillingly countered, "Don't be that ruthless. Just have them killed."

As Sang Sang and the young prince Xiaoman played, Li Hunyuan, the Third Prince, interrupted, grabbing Sang Sang's hand and face. Ning Que promptly arrived, scolding Li Hunyuan and warning him never to do it again. Later, when the tutor Li Mingchi arrived, Ning Que advised him to be strict with the "very mischievous" student, even suggesting a beating if necessary, as per the Emperor's instructions.

Later, Sang Sang remarked on Ning Que's recent pride, connecting it to their increasing influence. She asked if they were aligned with the princess. Ning Que confirmed that since their enemy Xia Hou was aligned with the Empress, they had no choice but to support the princess, though he disliked being forced to take a side. He spoke of waiting for the "right price," indicating that now was the time to capitalize on their position.

Sang Sang playfully asked if all men pursued unattainable women, to which Ning Que retorted that some men preferred the "dark and grubby" type, a jab Sang Sang took as an insult. She then suggested that Ning Que marrying the princess would ensure a life of luxury, but he vehemently rejected the idea, claiming he would never marry her "for all the gold in the world" and refusing to "sell his chastity."

Elsewhere, Mo Shanshan meticulously copied Ning Que's "Chicken Soup Script," deeply enamored with the writer, Mr. Thirteen, whom she had never met. Her disciple teased her about her affection, predicting their meeting in the Badlands would be a "dream come true." Her master, the Calligraphy Sage, secretly presented Mo Shanshan with an ancient map created by the Mochi Garden's founder, which marked the location of the Demonic Cult's old mountain gate.

He tasked her with finding the "Ming" scroll of the Tomes of Arcane, which he believed might be hidden there. Various factions prepared for the journey. Qu Ni of the Tianqing Sect in State Yuelun dispatched her disciples, warning them to be wary of the "ruleless" and "evil" Tang people. In South Jin, Sword Sage Liu Bai admonished his disciples that while they might lose their lives, they must never lose the dignity of the Sword Pavilion.

Back in Tang, Ning Que’s senior brothers presented him with the Yuan Thirteen Arrows and talisman-engraved blades. Sang Sang lovingly combed Ning Que's hair, her sadness evident as she offered him extensive advice on staying safe and healthy. Ning Que identified the Yuan Thirteen Arrows as his weapon but agreed with Sang Sang that patience was the ultimate weapon. Yan Se gave Ning Que a critical mission: to retrieve the "Ming" scroll of the Tomes of Arcane.

He revealed that long ago, the former High Priest of Light from the West Shrine brought this scroll to the Badlands to enlighten its people. Instead, the High Priest developed a new cultivation method and founded the Demonic Cult, leaving the scroll behind. Yan Se stressed that with the people of the wilderness migrating south, the West Shrine would spare no effort to reclaim the scroll.

He explained the scroll could contain Haotian's divine will, prophecies, or be a supreme magical artifact. He tasked Ning Que with finding it before anyone else. He also gave Ning Que a powerful life-saving talisman and predicted he might encounter Long Qing, advising him to either win or escape and return for more training. The Emperor of Tang discussed the legend of the Eternal Night with Xia Tian.

She tried to intercede for her brother, Xia Hou, but the Emperor cut her off. His true unease, he revealed, stemmed not from Xia Hou's military power but his ties to the West Shrine. The Emperor confessed he had long known that Xia Tian was the former Saintess of the Demonic Cult, but it never changed his feelings for her. He condemned Xia Hou for murdering countless innocents simply to hide this fact, an act the Emperor deemed pointless.

He believed a "demon" still lurked within Xia Hou from his time with the Demonic Cult, making him both patient and increasingly insane, and hoped it would never reawaken. At the Academy, Jun Mo mused that Ning Que must uphold the Academy's reputation but that his life was paramount. He worried about Ning Que's limited cultivation, as even the legendary Uncle Ke Haoran had failed to find the Tomes of Arcane after destroying the Demonic Cult.

The disciples then gathered to give Ning Que farewell gifts. Chen Pippi tearfully gave him a "Victory Cake" and a special life-saving pill. The Third Sister, Yu Lian, presented a jade thumb ring that would protect him in the Badlands. Others offered a mystery box for lonely moments, an embroidered handkerchief, a chessboard to calm his mind in desperate situations, and a comprehensive box of medicine. Finally, Ning Que approached his Second Brother, Jun Mo, who, having nothing left to give, simply presented Ning Que with a question.

Episode 29 Recap

Episode 31 Recap