Ever Night Episode 40 Recap, Plot

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Pippi Chen approached Sang Sang, having just discovered her apprenticeship with Wei Guangming. He began to warn her about Wei Guangming's true identity, but Wei Guangming loudly interrupted him. Undeterred, Pippi Chen bravely pressed Wei Guangming on his purpose for leaving the Secluded Pavilion and coming to the capital, emphasizing that Sang Sang was Ning Que's maid, and Ning Que was Mr. Thirteen of the Academy, a pro-disciple of the Sage.

Hearing this, Wei Guangming announced his departure, stating that the "shadow of darkness has not been here," and invited Sang Sang to join him. However, Sang Sang insisted on staying to wait for her young master to return. At that moment, Yan Se unexpectedly arrived at the Old Brush Pen Shop, remarking on Wei Guangming's unchanged, "disgusting" appearance. Wei Guangming, calling Yan Se a "bad old man," implied their meeting was fated.

They then resumed an unfinished Weiqi game, with Yan Se urging Wei Guangming to end his "relaxation" and return to the Secluded Pavilion. Wei Guangming, however, declared that as an "old man like a candle in the wind," he had matters left undone and feared running out of time. Scoffing at his stubbornness, Yan Se suggested he should be carefree, even asking if Wei Guangming had ever visited the Red-sleeve House.

When Yan Se tried to retract a move, Wei Guangming called him "rascally," insisting that a mistake, like in life, cannot be undone. As their argument escalated, they both unleashed their psionic power, causing the chessboard and pieces to shatter. Sang Sang immediately demanded they pay for the damage. This prompted Wei Guangming to ask what Sang Sang called Yan Se.

To stake his claim, Yan Se proudly pointed out that Sang Sang was the little maid of his own disciple, Ning Que. This complex connection intrigued Wei Guangming, who, having taken Sang Sang as his disciple, now expressed a strong desire to meet the young master Yan Se was so proud of. Later, Yan Se's stomach rumbled, and Sang Sang offered to make fried egg noodles, with Pippi Chen volunteering to help.

After their meal, Sang Sang thoughtfully poured tea for Wei Guangming. Yan Se praised her as an obedient girl and again urged Wei Guangming to abandon his obsession and savor life's remaining joys. Wei Guangming remained resolute, stating his mission from Haotian was to find the Son of Yama in the Tang Empire.

Yan Se dismissed this as an "eye disease" and accused Wei Guangming of being the true monster, the "Son of Yama" to the innocent people he had slaughtered fifteen years prior under a "trumped-up charge." He argued Wei Guangming was worse than the legend because he committed atrocities in the name of Light. Wei Guangming defended his actions as necessary to protect the world. Realizing the impasse, they agreed to a decisive battle the next day.

As Yan Se left, Sang Sang pleaded with Wei Guangming not to go, fearing for his safety and insisting both men were good people. Wei Guangming simply replied that some matters transcended good and bad, calling it "destiny." The next morning, Wei Guangming meticulously tidied up the shop and left a small pouch of silver for Sang Sang as a long-overdue gift for accepting him as her Master. Meanwhile, Pippi Chen reported the impending "final battle" to Jun Mo.

Pippi speculated that Yan Se would use the God-Startling Formation, but Jun Mo explained that in this duel, neither master would use any power beyond their own. He described it not as a violent clash but as a "peaceful and gorgeous" lesson for them to observe, and perhaps a "last farewell" for the two old men. That night, a worried Sang Sang spoke to herself, relaying the day's events to the absent Ning Que and wishing for his swift return.

The following morning, as heavy snow fell, a dressed-for-battle Yan Se was visited by Li Qingshan, who came to see him off. They reminisced about old plans and promised to drink together upon Yan Se's return. Outside the shop, Jun Mo and Pippi Chen were already waiting when Yan Se arrived to meet Wei Guangming.

Wei Guangming invited Sang Sang to come along as "the best witness," asking her to bring two urns—a clean, new one for himself and an old one for Yan Se, for their ashes. He humorously noted that he'd never tasted her famous chicken soup, and when she offered to make it if they would stay, he politely declined. As they departed, Wei Guangming wondered aloud which urn would be filled, leaving it to "Haotian's arrangement."

Yan Se agreed, adding that if both were filled, they could be "neighbors." He then questioned the point of finding the Son of Yama if they both perished, to which Wei Guangming suggested they leave such matters to their disciples. Upon arriving at a snowy field, Yan Se made one last attempt to change Wei Guangming's mind, to no avail.

Jun Mo and Pippi Chen arrived to watch, with Jun Mo explaining that he was primarily there out of concern for Sang Sang's safety, as the two masters had both surpassed the five stages of cultivation and reached the peak of the Knowing Fate Stage. As a final gesture, Wei Guangming gave Sang Sang the pouch of silver. The duel began with a finger-guessing game. Wei Guangming played "stone."

In a punning retort, Yan Se also declared "stone" and immediately launched countless pebbles at his opponent. Wei Guangming dodged them, though one struck his foot. Yan Se then instructed Sang Sang to tell Ning Que not to fear such "small tricks." He drew a talisman, materializing a stunning rainbow in the sky.

He told Sang Sang that to counter such a technique, one only needed to "swing her sleeves," and gave her a precise mnemonic for a talisman—"two horizontal and two vertical lines, both meaning 'two,' combine to form the character for 'well'"—to relay to Ning Que. In response, Wei Guangming's Qi dissipated the rainbow into snowflakes. He then projected a brilliant light that burst into a spectacular firework display.

As it lit up the sky, he explained the nature of Light: "It's compassionate and indifferent. Gentle and powerful. It illuminates all things. It's everywhere." When asked if she understood, Sang Sang affirmed, describing a profound vision: she saw "an unprecedentedly great talisman" appear from the north, split in two, and then converge. She also witnessed "a beam of brilliance, running through all of time, without beginning or end, existing for eternity." Her words left Jun Mo and Pippi Chen utterly spellbound.

Episode 39 Recap

Episode 41 Recap