Ever Night Episode 38 Recap, Plot

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Ning Que and Mo Shanshan lay in wait by Da Ming Lake, anticipating the reopening of the Demonic Cult's Gate. Mo Shanshan expressed concern that Ning Que's earlier strike against Prince Long Qing, the beloved disciple of the Hierarch of the West Shrine, could lead to irreparable consequences. Ning Que, however, maintained that he had no choice, as Long Qing had forced him to use Sang Sang as a wager, and he could not afford to lose.

He emphasized that Sang Sang was not merely his life-gate but his very life, a sentiment that brought a pang of sadness to Mo Shanshan. Meanwhile, Wei Guangming guided Sang Sang in preparing food, simultaneously imparting the secrets of Divine skill. He explained that the Brilliance of Haotian was the origin of all Qi in the world and could purify everything into nothingness. Wei Guangming emphasized that such a powerful capability demanded a pure, transparent heart, free of any darkness.

Sang Sang demonstrated her growing proficiency with the Divine skill, much to Wei Guangming's delight, by effortlessly preparing a meal. Elsewhere, Tang advised Tang Xiaotang to avoid Ye Hongyu, known as the Tao-Addict. Tang Xiaotang, the current Saint Virgin of the Demonic Cult who has received teachings from all the Elders, felt confident in her abilities, but Tang warned her that Ye Hongyu had already reached the nature stage of Tao and would be an insurmountable opponent.

Tang Xiaotang knew that Ye Hongyu, like many others, sought the Almighty Book. She wondered if the book was hidden within the Gate, lamenting that their Suzerain had not told them its whereabouts before leaving over two decades ago. Despite the long wait, Tang held firm in his belief that the Suzerain would surely return. Ye Hongyu relentlessly pursued Ning Que and Mo Shanshan.

Mo Shanshan bravely shielded Ning Que, prompting Ye Hongyu to declare her intention to kill Ning Que as retribution for ruining Long Qing. Ning Que, unwilling to implicate Mo Shanshan, stepped forward to face Ye Hongyu and, during the confrontation, urged Mo Shanshan to flee separately. After running a considerable distance, Ning Que realized Mo Shanshan had not followed and immediately turned back to find her.

Ye Hongyu and Ning Que engaged in a fierce battle, with Ning Que quickly overwhelmed. Mo Shanshan intervened by activating the Fantian Talisman, enveloping both Ning Que and Ye Hongyu within its destructive power. Ye Hongyu responded by summoning her Natal object, a flying fish, to counter the talisman. Unexpectedly, a protective talisman gifted by Master Yanse emerged from Ning Que, shielding him from harm. At Mo Shanshan's urging, Ning Que seized the opportunity and fired another arrow.

In retaliation, Ye Hongyu unleashed a barrage of flying swords, forcing Ning Que to deploy his black umbrella and shield both himself and Mo Shanshan from the deadly assault. During their intense struggle, their battle inadvertently shattered a prohibition, causing a mysterious gate to materialize in the center of Da Ming Lake. This unexpected development forced Ye Hongyu and Ning Que to temporarily cease their hostilities. Simultaneously, Xia Hou and Tang sensed the opening of the Demonic Cult's Gate.

Tang Xiaotang, filled with admiration for Ning Que's feat, expressed a strong desire to become a disciple of the Sage. As Ye Hongyu, Mo Shanshan, and Ning Que approached the Gate, Ye Hongyu considered killing Ning Que to silence him. Ning Que, however, threatened her with his bow, leading them to agree to cooperate in overcoming the formidable dangers within.

As Ye Hongyu attempted to open the Gate, she inadvertently activated the Massive Block-Rampart Formation, which violently shook her, yet left Ning Que unharmed. Mo Shanshan explained that the formation's creator had never anticipated someone of Ning Que's low cultivation level entering its vicinity. Suddenly, as Ning Que felt a surge of Qi of Magnanimous, the Massive Block-Rampart Formation roared to life, causing the ground to tremble violently and sending the three reeling.

Ning Que quickly retrieved a chessboard from his pocket, a gift from his Fifth and Eighth Brothers. Following Mo Shanshan's precise instructions to place the black chessman on Tianyuan and the white chessman on Xingwei, the formation abruptly ceased its activity. The Gate of the Demonic Cult now stood resolutely before them. Ning Que then donned a jade thumb ring, which he was advised to wear for protection, and effortlessly opened the Gate.

Upon their entry, the Gate immediately sealed shut, plunging the interior into complete darkness. They lit torches to illuminate their surroundings, revealing a desolate and barren landscape. Ning Que stumbled over a loose piece of cloth, dislodging several rocks that nearly struck him before Ye Hongyu pushed him out of harm's way. As they ventured deeper, they discovered the discarded armor and weapons of Jurisdiction Division black-clothed deacons and Religion-protecting Cavalrymen.

Mo Shanshan noticed an inscription on the wall left by Ke Haoran. Ning Que, sensing a powerful Qi of Magnanimous emanating from the words, expressed his confusion as to why Ke Haoran, his Youngest Uncle, would have destroyed the Demonic Cult, and what historical animosity could exist between the Academy and the Demonic Cult. Proceeding through a path littered with skeletal remains, the trio suddenly heard a hoarse, ancient voice.

An old man, bound by multiple iron chains to a stone tower, emerged from the bones. He introduced himself as one who had remained to atone for a grave mistake. Ye Hongyu, recalling ancient records, immediately recognized him as Priest Liansheng, the previous High Priest of the Jurisdiction Division, Liansheng Thirty-two. She knelt in reverence, while Ning Que pressed him for details regarding his connection to Ke Haoran.

Liansheng claimed Ke Haoran had once been his closest friend, but their paths diverged after Ke Haoran, disregarding societal norms, married a top dancer from the Red-sleeve House. Liansheng asserted that Ke Haoran's power grew immensely after entering the Academy, but this also brought him closer to "the darkness," implying he had fallen into Qi Deviation.

Liansheng claimed he dragged Ke Haoran into a bloody conflict with the Demonic Cult at all costs to stop him, resulting in Ke Haoran's demise by Haotian's punishment. Ning Que vehemently rejected this, insisting that the Sword of Magnanimous had no connection to demonic cultivation and that his Youngest Uncle, who embodied the Qi of Magnanimous, would never succumb to Qi Deviation.

Ye Hongyu, however, urged Ning Que to verify Ke Haoran's true cause of death with the Sage back at the Academy, asserting that Liansheng, as a high-ranking priest, would not lie. Liansheng then admitted that he himself had fallen into Qi Deviation, claiming that interlinking Tao and Diabolism could lead to immortality. He offered to pass on his legacy and teach long-lost divine skills to any of them willing to approach and inherit his practice.

Ye Hongyu, tempted by the prospect of acquiring lost knowledge, stepped forward and bowed to Liansheng. Liansheng struggled to rise, but instead of imparting divine skill, he unleashed a powerful force, throwing Ye Hongyu into the air and spinning her rapidly around himself. Ning Que swiftly drew an arrow and shot it at Liansheng.

Unfazed, Liansheng began to invoke the Taotie Method, a feared ancient technique, to absorb Ye Hongyu's flesh, blood, and vital energy to replenish his own depleted power. As Ye Hongyu cried out in agony, Liansheng confessed his dark past: he had impersonated the Demonic Cult's Suzerain and murdered Ke Haoran's wife. His true aim was to manipulate Ke Haoran into destroying the Demonic Cult, allowing Liansheng to then lead his Religion-protecting Cavalrymen and Black-clothed Deacons to seize power.

However, Ke Haoran had uncovered the truth. Liansheng admitted he had attempted to trap Ke Haoran within the Demonic Cult's Gate using the Cage Formation, but Ke Haoran had comprehended the formation's true essence and inverted it, trapping Liansheng within it instead. Liansheng defiantly stated that neither Ning Que, the world, nor even Ke Haoran himself had the right to judge him; only time could truly understand his actions.

Ning Que demanded Liansheng reveal his true identity, but the ancient priest claimed to have played so many roles—Buddha follower, Taoist priest, great devil, immortal, tiger, mangy dog—that he no longer knew who he was. He listed various titles he had held, from High Priest of the West Shrine to Gate Protector of Tianqing and eldest disciple of the Demonic Cult, emphasizing the fragmentation of his identity.

As Liansheng continued to drain Ye Hongyu's life force, Ning Que selflessly offered his own blood in her stead. Liansheng, seemingly impressed, offered to take Ning Que as a disciple and impart his lifelong cultivation. Ning Que scoffed at the offer, stating that Liansheng's "comprehension was not worthy" and that he would rather inherit the legacy of his Youngest Uncle, Ke Haoran.

Liansheng then lamented Ke Haoran's actions, calling him "Loony Ke," who transformed his sword intent into all the Taoism of the world and, using Liansheng's own proudest Cage Formation, sealed all primal Qi from nature, repressing him like a monster in eternal darkness and despair, a fate he could not reconcile himself with.

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