Ever Night Season 2 Episode 34 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recap
Wielding the scorching formation key, Ning Que agilely pursued Chen Mou over rooftops and walls. The very bricks of the capital city trembled as the ambient energy seemed to converge on Vermilion Bird Avenue, surging towards Chen Mou. Chen Mou responded decisively, once again striking Ning Que down to the ground. Undeterred, Ning Que, refusing to yield, struggled back to his feet to continue the fight.
Meanwhile, Chao Xiaoshu's father, Grandpa Chao, who had been peacefully residing in the Spring Breeze Pavilion, heard of Chen Mou's incursion into the capital. He declared, "I can't wait here anymore. I have to go help Mr. Thirteen." When cautioned that it would mean certain death, he replied, "When have you ever seen me afraid of death? . . . To die for your parents is being filial. To die for your brothers is being loyal.
To die for your king is being committed. To die for your country is the true practice of Tao. Now Tang is in grave danger. We are the owners of Tang. It's time for us to practice the Great Dao." Neighbors pledged their support, but Grandpa Chao insisted, "It's not your turn yet. If it's time to practice the Great Dao, then let us old ones go first. I've lived over eighty years; it's almost enough.
Come on, let's gather all our neighbours. Come with me to fight the monsters." Soon, a crowd of citizens rushed forward. Ning Que, exhausted and repeatedly defeated by Chen Mou, slowly woke up in a daze to witness Chen Mou effortlessly striking them down. Chen Mou contemptuously dismissed them, asking, "Are you willing to die like ants?"
Grandpa Chao, introducing himself as "Spring Breeze Pavilion's Old Chao, Chao Xiaoshu's father," defiantly responded, "As for your question, I can tell you: for us old folks in Tang, not feeling ashamed when we die is willingness and comfort. That's why so many people are eager to die here. We Tang people have always had a tradition of sacrificing ourselves. . . Tang is strong because it dares to die. . .
The great Tang has always had people who strive hard and work diligently. Facing injustice and bullying, some dare to rise up. Facing invading enemies, some bravely sacrifice themselves. There's a saying in Tang: 'He who you can trust with your young king, with your country; he who stays firm at the most critical moment, is a man with true virtue.' Great Tang is the Land of the Virtuous.
Yet this beautiful land is about to be destroyed by you old Daoists. And you're asking me if that's what we want? You can kiss my ass." Despite their bravery, Chen Mou quickly overpowered the charging citizens. As Ning Que lay dazed on the ground, witnessing the fallen citizens, he suddenly had an epiphany. He finally recalled the "乂" character. Using the formation key, he ignited the Vermilion Bird on Vermilion Bird Avenue, sending a phoenix hurtling towards Chen Mou.
Fighting back, Ning Que then swung his blade to write the character “乂,” activating the God-Startling Formation. The capital was instantly enveloped in an impenetrable barrier, trapping Chen Mou within its formidable embrace. Spectators exclaimed, "Character 'Ren'. That's a big one. That's a huge talisman. Junior Brother, you finally wrote that character! So that talisman is actually the character 'Ren'. Ning Que, finally you drew that talisman!"
With Chen Mou defeated, Fan Yue's Heshan Plate deactivated, and the Academy disciples sighed in relief. Jun Mo, Slow Li, and Yu Lian witnessed a bright flash in the sky, confirming the successful activation of the God-Startling Formation. A bystander cried out, "Temple master has failed. The capital is safe now!" Everyone cheered for Ning Que, with one person exclaiming, "Little Thirteen, you're amazing!" , while others called out, "First Brother, you worked hard!"
and "Third Sister, you also worked hard!" Ultimately, everyone cheered, "We won!" Chen Pipi, seeing his father’s defeat, rushed to him, calling out “Father!” Slow Li helped Ning Que, while Yu Lian and Mo Shanshan accompanied them. Together, they gazed at the sky to report to Sage, confirming their successful defense of the capital. Meanwhile, Jun Mo returned and reunited with his junior disciples. Mu You, with tears in her eyes, helped him tie his hair.
Jun Mo knelt, reporting to Sage, "Sage, Green Gorge is safe now." Other disciples also knelt in respect. Heavenly Maid observed the Tang victory, appearing unfazed. She stated, "They're defeated. But you didn't seem to be mad. Why should I be? Because Tang is not going down. This is not the end. This is merely the beginning." Chen Pipi took Chen Mou’s body to Zhishou Temple.
Remotely, Cheng Lixue reported the front-line situation to Xiong Chumo, informing him of Chen Mou's defeat and Ye Hongyu's withdrawal from Green Gorge. Cheng Lixue opined that the "fighting against Tang State" campaign would likely end in failure. Unwilling to accept this, Xiong Chumo sternly warned Cheng Lixue not to spread such rumors and disturb morale, or he would face punishment under West Shrine law. On the city wall, Xia Tian and Mo Shanshan watched the Tang army retreat safely.
Xia Tian thanked Mo Shanshan for her vital assistance in rescuing the Tang people and lifting the capital's siege. Mo Shanshan humbly replied, "I just did it for Ning Que." Xia Tian praised her, calling her a "truly wonderful person". When Mo Shanshan asked "Wonderful in what way?" , Xia Tian replied, "Straightforward, I like it." She further noted, "To live only for oneself, takes some great courage."
Li Hupo then brought good news: Chao Xiaoshu had taken advantage of internal disputes among the allied forces and led the Eastern Front volunteer army to a decisive victory, causing the Yan State and Golden Horde armies to disband and retreat, and Ye Hongyu to lead her low-morale allied forces back to West Shrine. The crisis on the northeast frontier was temporarily averted. Mo Shanshan eagerly inquired about the Academy gentlemen.
Li Hupo assured her that Jun Mo and the others had left Green Gorge after the South-Defending Army arrived and would return to the capital within days, to Mo Shanshan's delight. Elsewhere, Sang Sang joyfully spotted Blacky and the carriage, rushing to embrace the horse as Heavenly Maid followed behind. Severely injured, Ning Que, leaning on crutches, waited daily in the back hill for his senior siblings' return, despite the servant boy's repeated pleas to rest.
Ning Que, determined, refused to leave. When he finally saw Jun Mo and the others approaching, he excitedly tossed aside his crutches and ran to greet them. His joy turned to sorrow upon seeing Jun Mo's missing right arm. Jun Mo, however, downplayed his injury, saying, "What's there to make a fuss about? We won."
He added that Sage had taught him to accept what cannot be changed, and while he regretted not being able to fight Heaven or salute with two hands, it was a minor pity and his posture was now somewhat poor. He concluded, "The rest is no different." He then urged everyone to go to their dining room. Slow Li, Yu Lian, Song Qian, and others soon arrived.
Jun Mo inquired about Chen Pipi, and it was explained that he had taken Chen Mou's body back to Zhishou Temple. Slow Li warned against complacency, asserting that Chen Mou's defeat was merely a turning point, and West Shrine would not give up easily. He predicted that with Sage no longer present, West Shrine would undoubtedly launch a second "fighting against Tang State" campaign.
Yu Lian expressed concern for Jun Mo's arm, but he lightheartedly brushed it off, reiterating his earlier sentiment that if he couldn't fight the divine, fighting mortals was also enjoyable. He then invited everyone to the dining room for a meal. As Ning Que watched his weary and injured senior siblings, a profound sadness settled over him, realizing for the first time that Sage was truly no longer with them.
He wondered what Sage would say if he were there, imagining him instructing, "Ninth and Tenth, let the music begin. Fifth and Eighth, come play chess with me. The rest go cook." Slow Li asked everyone to help prepare a meal. Tang Xiaotang specially prepared Chen Pipi's self-heating hot pot. Everyone savored the delicious food, a welcome taste they had craved in Green Gorge. Someone remarked, "Without Chen Pipi, we can still enjoy the self-heating hotpot.
Xiao Tang has learnt all of Pipi's recipes." Yu Lian, though not eating, mentioned, "Sage loved to watch you eat. He loved to watch me practicing my calligraphy." Slowly, the Academy returned to its accustomed peace and tranquility. Back in West Shrine, Ye Hongyu reported to Xiong Chumo. He condemned her for withdrawing her troops from Green Gorge without authorization, accusing her of fleeing the battlefield.
Ye Hongyu fiercely retorted, questioning his strategy which led to their current predicament despite mobilizing the entire world against Tang, with the Golden Horde to the north, West Shrine allied forces to the south, Moonwheel to the west, and Yan State to the east. She reminded him that even Chen Mou, despite defeating First Master and the Demonic Sect Master Twenty-three Years of Cicada, had fallen to Ning Que’s "Ren" talisman. Luo Kedi interjected, accusing Ye Hongyu of disrespecting the Hierarch, but she swiftly struck him down.
