Ever Night Season 2 Episode 18 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recaps
Li Hupo helped Emperor Li Zhongyi return to the military camp, where Xia Tian observed his exhausted state, feeling a deep sense of concern. Meanwhile, Ning Que drove a carriage carrying Sangsang and the Sage, and they soon arrived at the Burning Sea. Sangsang was visibly happy, and the Sage expressed a desire for Variable platyfish from the sea. Ning Que promptly caught two fish, which Sangsang expertly sliced into sashimi.
The Sage ate heartily but remarked that the fish were not as tender as in previous years and were becoming scarce. Ning Que suggested they eat fewer to prevent extinction, but the Sage retorted that for a delicious fish, being eaten was its best destiny. In the imperial court, Hua Shanyue, Captain of Gushan County, reported to Princess Li Yu and Li Peiyan on the recent battle.
Emperor Li Zhongyi and General Ma Shixiang had personally led eight hundred heavy-armored cavalry to reinforce the Northeast border army and the main force of the Northern Army. They fought fiercely against the Allied forces of the West Shrine for over ten days, ultimately securing a victory that left the West Shrine forces with heavy casualties and severely dampened morale, making further aggression unlikely in the near term.
Li Yu was perplexed why the Emperor did not pursue the retreating enemy. Li Peiyan insinuated that the Emperor might be taking time to relax with the Queen and Sixth Prince in Wei City, which greatly angered Li Yu, who forbade him from making such baseless speculations. Hua Shanyue then informed Li Yu that the West Shrine forces were planning to withdraw their troops soon, suggesting the Emperor's return was imminent.
Ning Que and Sangsang were bathing in the Burning Sea, enjoying each other's company and sharing laughter. Ning Que, moved by the moment, wanted to kiss Sangsang. Suddenly, the Sage, who had been resting, interjected, reminding them that they were not yet married. He decided that he would officiate their wedding that very day. Ning Que and Sangsang, dressed in new clothes, first knelt and bowed to the Sage, and then bowed to each other as husband and wife.
The Sage witnessed their simple yet heartfelt ceremony. Afterward, Ning Que carried Sangsang onto their carriage, and the Sage galloped away on his horse. The Sage then summoned the Drinker and the Butcher, who reluctantly appeared, complaining loudly about the Sage disrupting their peaceful reclusive lives. The Drinker angrily accused the Sage of revealing a great secret—that Haotian eats people—to his disciple, warning that such a revelation would incur the wrath of Haotian, a terrifying prospect.
The Sage, however, remained unfazed, noting that the two of them could no longer remain hidden. The Drinker emphasized that only the three of them should know this secret, and any fourth person who learned it must die, explicitly stating that Ning Que would have to die. The Sage scorned their cowardly thousand-year hiding, questioning the meaning of a life without challenges.
The Butcher and the Drinker mocked the Sage for his hubris, reminding him of Ke Haoran's tragic end and asserting that in the eyes of Haotian, the Sage was merely an ant. The Sage dismissed their words, telling them to continue hiding for another millennium and see what changes the world would bring, daring them to act on their threats against Ning Que. Later, Sangsang woke from a disturbing nightmare, which left her with an unsettling feeling.
When Ning Que detected the Sage's return by scent, he quickly left the carriage to greet him. The Sage commented that Sangsang had been sleeping much lately and often forgot things, attributing it to the stress of being married to Ning Que. He then spoke of a snow mountain to the north, beyond which lay a black sea—the origin of the Ever Night.
He recounted how the Butcher and the Drinker once believed that the power of the Lord of the Deceased was strongest there, beyond Haotian's reach. They built a boat there, hoping to achieve eternal life by hiding on it, but eventually realized there was no Ever Night and abandoned the vessel. Ning Que, curious, asked what kind of people the Butcher and the Drinker were.
The Sage described them as timid individuals, similar to himself in their fear of being devoured by Haotian, but lacking the courage to seek the truth, choosing instead to merely hide. Their conversation was abruptly cut short when Sangsang emerged from the carriage, her voice cold as iron, telling the Sage that his porridge had burned. Meanwhile, General Ma Shixiang delivered a battle report to Emperor Li Zhongyi.
The report detailed Long Qing leading Golden Horde light cavalry in an invasion of the Tang border. Emperor Li Zhongyi, still recuperating, did not issue a written decree, instead sending a verbal order through Xia Tian for Princess Li Yu to ally with Crown Prince Chong Ming of Yan State, emphasizing the need for utmost secrecy. Ma Shixiang expressed concern about the complexity of dealing with Yan State and its formidable figures like Long Qing, who could rival Ning Que.
He also voiced his worry about the Emperor's prolonged confinement and deteriorating health, wishing to visit him, but Xia Tian politely refused, stating the Emperor was recovering and unfit for visitors. In a private moment, the Emperor, his health worsening, instructed Xia Tian to ensure the well-being of their son, Li Hupo, whom he considered the hope of the Tang State. Xia Tian promised to care for him.
Back with Ning Que and Sangsang, the Sage noticed Sangsang was asleep and asked Ning Que if he wanted to see Mo Shanshan. Ning Que was hesitant due to Sangsang, but a seemingly sleeping Sangsang then spoke, expressing a desire to meet Mo Shanshan in person to thank her for saving their lives during their escape from the Rotten-wood Temple.
The Sage, using his potent powers, instantaneously transported Ning Que and Sangsang to a snowy mountain, where they joyfully played with Mo Shanshan. Moments later, Ning Que and Sangsang awoke to find the Sage before them, realizing their snowy adventure was but a shared dream. The Sage smiled but said nothing. Sangsang confided in Ning Que that since her dream of killing him, she had begun to perceive the flow of the world's original Qi differently.
The world, and even Ning Que himself, now appeared altered in her eyes; she saw him as everything—a blade of grass, a flower, a tree—existing yet ethereal, like a phantom. She unsettlingly declared that all death was merely a reunion after a long separation. Ning Que was startled by her words, asking who taught her such things, but Sangsang insisted the thoughts were her own, stemming from that peculiar dream.
As she began to describe the dream—of killing him—Ning Que suddenly collapsed into a deep sleep. The Sage explained that Ning Que had been under immense strain and needed the rest. Sangsang blamed herself, feeling her recent excessive sleep had contributed to Ning Que's exhaustion, though the Sage noted that many things unfolding were beyond her understanding or control.
Ning Que awoke after three days and three nights, disoriented and unable to recall the events leading up to his slumber, except for a vague memory of bidding farewell to Mo Shanshan and seeking Sangsang. He discovered they had arrived at the foot of Peach Mountain, deep within West Shrine territory. Sangsang had gone to buy baked sweet potatoes from a specific vendor the Sage had indicated.
Ning Que worried about Sangsang being alone in West Shrine territory, especially as she was the Daughter of the Lord of the Deceased, and questioned the Sage if the price of the sweet potatoes might be too high. The Sage calmly explained that the stall had been open for centuries. He recounted how, long ago, he met an ambitious young man there and, finding his vision interesting, helped him establish a powerful empire capable of rivaling the West Shrine. Ning Que shrewdly guessed the young man's surname was Li, the founder of the Tang State.
