Ever Night Season 2 Episode 31 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recap
Liu Bai observed Jun Mo’s posture, noting the subtle placement of his iron sword one and a half chi in front of him, even when he wasn't wielding it. This detail, longer than Liu Bai's own famous "within one chi" sword theory, confirmed his assessment: Jun Mo was the most proud person he had ever encountered, and that pride, Liu Bai believed, would be his undoing.
Liu Bai resolved to strike when Jun Mo was wounded, weary, and consumed by rage. Ye Hongyu, overhearing this, interjected, confident that Liu Bai would not get the chance, as she herself was eager to fight and defeat Jun Mo. Liu Bai, sharing a similar ambition, nodded in agreement. Later, at the Academy’s gathering, Mu You attempted to lighten the tense atmosphere but spoke out of turn. Jun Mo, uncharacteristically, rebuked her sharply, leaving Mu You feeling wronged.
The conversation amongst the disciples drifted to the food, which had declined since Sage and First Brother’s departure, prompting wistful remarks about Sangsang’s cooking. Jun Mo, meanwhile, remained focused on the strategic situation, analyzing West Shrine’s persistent cavalry incursions designed to funnel them into the Green Gorge. He vowed unequivocally never to retreat, understanding that one concession could lead to many. He also voiced concerns about a potential night raid.
The disciples, looking up at the moon, openly expressed their deep longing for Sage. Meanwhile, Sangsang experienced an ache in her heart, which she identified as missing Sage. Heavenly Maid, however, coldly dismissed such mortal sorrow, explaining that missing leads to sentimentality, and sentimentality to heartache, all of which she deemed meaningless self-torture for mere mortals. Sangsang countered that love and companionship were fundamental distinctions of humanity.
Heavenly Maid, unswayed, reiterated that she would never allow trivial emotions to disturb her composure. Later, when Sangsang confessed to missing her "young master," Ning Que, Heavenly Maid strictly forbade her from speaking his name and commanded her to forget such "disgusting" things, reminding Sangsang that they were already married. Long Qing received a crucial war report indicating that Temple Master Chen Mou was personally joining the conflict. This intelligence prompted an immediate strategic shift.
Long Qing ordered Zi Mo to remain with the main Yan army to keep Chao Xiaoshu's forces engaged, while he, accompanied by his elite Fallen Knights and Golden Horde cavalry, would embark on a swift southward march towards the Tang State capital. His plan was to converge with Temple Master and seize the capital, believing their combined might would be unstoppable.
He strictly instructed Zi Mo to maintain absolute secrecy regarding his movements, acknowledging that any shift in power could fundamentally alter the war's outcome. In the Tang capital, Xia Tian received multiple dispatches. News arrived that a large Huang army was advancing south, threatening to join forces with the Golden Horde, which could overwhelm the North-Defending Army. On the southern front, the South-Defending Army was still en route.
There was a positive report from the northeastern front, where Chao Xiaoshu’s eastern front volunteer army had secured its first victory against the Yan army, though it came at the heavy cost of four thousand casualties, mostly civilian volunteers. Separately, Chao Xiaoshu himself received intelligence about Long Qing's rapid southward movement, which caused him to deduce that Long Qing was confident the capital would fall before his arrival, implying a greater power was already at play.
Back in the capital, Ning Que was consumed by despair, struggling to find a solution to repair the damaged God-Startling Formation. Two of the allotted seven days had passed without significant progress, leaving him feeling overwhelmed by the immense task entrusted to him by Sage and his teacher. Both Xia Tian and Li Hupo offered words of encouragement, urging him to believe in his own capabilities. Ning Que, thanking them, left to continue his work.
At Green Gorge, the beating of war drums signaled the imminent attack. Ye Hongyu immediately confronted Jun Mo, deploying the formidable "Great Formation of Confinement." Her intention, as surmised by Luo Kedi, was not a direct victory, but to momentarily trap Jun Mo, creating an opportune window for the West Shrine cavalry to attack the other Academy disciples. Luo Kedi seized this chance, ordering his mounted archers to engage in a relentless "wheel battle" to exhaust the defenders.
Ye Hongyu further pressed her advantage, using a specialized sword technique to disrupt the musical defense of the Academy’s Ninth and Tenth Brothers, Northgong Weiyang and Ximen Buhuo, rendering them defenseless. Jun Mo, realizing the gravity of the situation, mustered all his power to break free from the confinement, rescuing his junior brothers, though the effort visibly cost him dearly.
Luo Kedi, observing from a distance, acknowledged that while Ye Hongyu had not defeated Jun Mo, she had effectively neutralized two key opponents and weakened him. Despite the Academy’s valiant resistance, Luo Kedi, confident in their numerical superiority, ordered a full-scale assault. Jun Mo, facing overwhelming odds, prepared to fight to the death alongside his loyal disciples, who adamantly refused his command to retreat. Just as the West Shrine cavalry charged, Li Slowly made a dramatic appearance.
He calmly took Northgong Weiyang’s zither and, with a single, powerful surge of music, repelled millions of charging cavalry. Moving with incredible speed, he then swiftly incapacitated both Luo Kedi and Ye Hongyu, leaving them stunned on the ground, before respectfully acknowledging Liu Bai and continuing on his way. Moments later, Temple Master Chen Mou arrived at Green Gorge, unleashing countless sharp, flying swords in a devastating attack against the Academy disciples.
Fourth Brother Fan Yue bravely stepped forward, defending against the onslaught with his Heshan Plate, which vibrated precariously under the immense power. Jun Mo, witnessing this, recognized that the only way to end the war and save his comrades was to kill Temple Master Chen Mou, yet he questioned who possessed such power now that Sage was gone.
Another disciple, however, solemnly stated that all their actions, from the battle at Green Gorge to the preparations in the capital with the God-Startling Formation, were all part of a larger plan anticipating Temple Master's arrival. Seeing Li Slowly depart Green Gorge, Temple Master Chen Mou immediately ceased his assault and gave chase, understanding that Li Slowly’s true objective lay elsewhere. Li Slowly arrived at Zhishou Temple, intending to retrieve the five remaining scrolls of the Almighty Book.
Temple Master Chen Mou soon caught up, initially questioning Li Slowly's decision to come to a place where his junior brother (Chen Pipi) resided. Li Slowly confirmed that his two days of apparent wandering were a deliberate ruse, a calculated move to force Temple Master to leave Green Gorge and follow him, using the sacred scrolls as bait.
Temple Master, admitting that he had indeed been manipulated by a junior, explained that his urgent need to conquer the capital left him no choice but to pursue. He then trapped Li Slowly in the formidable "Ponding the fish and caging the bird" formation, boasting of its power to confine even a Stage of No-Distance practitioner. However, Li Slowly quickly noticed a subtle flaw: gold threads tied to the "cage bird's wings" within the formation.
He removed them, effectively nullifying the formation and easily escaping. Temple Master was left stunned, realizing with fury that his own son, Chen Pipi, had deliberately sabotaged the formation. Earlier, Chen Pipi had used the same "Ponding the fish and caging the bird" formation to trap his uncle. His uncle praised his quick grasp of such a complex formation, acknowledging his inherent talent as the Temple Master's son.
Chen Pipi, however, expressed that the title of "Temple Master's son" was a lifelong burden. He defended his actions by stating he only did what he believed was right, and now, having confined his uncle, he intended to return to Tang State to help.
He explained to his uncle that he had deduced Li Slowly's plan because he knew the "Ponding the fish and caging the bird" formation was the only one capable of stopping a Stage of No-Distance practitioner, and he had "guessed" the gold thread vulnerability through simple logic: a bird tied down cannot fly. His uncle commended his brilliant mind, wishing he would apply it to more "righteous" endeavors, but Chen Pipi challenged the very notions of right and wrong.
Back in the capital, Ning Que, overwhelmed by the daunting task of repairing the God-Startling Formation, confided in Yu Lian about his despair. Yu Lian, in her characteristically blunt manner, acknowledged his excellent talent in talismans but candidly admitted his terrible aptitude for formations. She then offered a cryptic but firm reassurance that "someone will come to help you," before returning to her calligraphy practice.
True to Yu Lian’s word, Mo Shanshan arrived in the capital alone, a remarkable act given that her home, Dahe State, had sided with West Shrine in the war. Ning Que, both relieved and surprised, asked if she was truly willing to stand with him against the entire Taoism world once more. Their reunion was brief but deeply meaningful, filled with unspoken sentiments and quiet reassurances.
Ning Que immediately brought her to the God-Startling Formation, explaining that the red sections on the array indicated the areas requiring repair. Meanwhile, at Green Gorge, the brutal battle raged on. Fan Yue continued his valiant defense, using the Heshan Plate to withstand Temple Master Chen Mou's relentless attacks, supported by Jun Mo and the other Academy disciples.
As the day drew to a close, Jun Mo, recognizing the toll the battle was taking, instructed his weary disciples to rest, knowing that the next day would be even more arduous. All the while, Liu Bai remained impassive in his carriage, refusing to intervene. Luo Kedi, growing increasingly agitated by Liu Bai's inaction, vented his frustration to Ye Hongyu, believing that if Liu Bai would only abandon his sword-master's pride and cooperate, they could swiftly defeat Jun Mo.
He further complained that if Temple Master would fully engage in worldly conflict and kill without hesitation, the Academy would stand no chance against Taoism. Ye Hongyu, however, dismissed his concerns, stating that in her eyes, both Liu Bai and Temple Master were simply "the kind of people I want to defeat," revealing her own profound and unyielding ambition.
