Ever Night Season 2 Episode 35 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recap
Ye Hongyu publicly confronted Xiong Chumo, the Hierarch of West Shrine. She questioned his campaign to conquer Tang State under the banner of eternal light and righteousness, noting its failure. She pointed out that Tang State had endured for a thousand years, not merely due to Sage or the Divine Array, but because of its countless citizens. Ye Hongyu accused Xiong Chumo of self-deception, using the righteous path for personal gain and power.
When Xiong Chumo threatened to punish her, she boldly exposed his severe injuries from fighting the Suzerain of Demonic Cult, revealing his weakened cultivation. Her words enraged him. Ye Hongyu then confessed her shame over the West Shrine's million cavalries being defeated by just seven people from the Academy. She proposed to go to Tang State to negotiate a truce, aiming to spare the common people from further war and regain light.
Other divine officials agreed with Ye Hongyu, prompting Xiong Chumo to reluctantly permit her mission to Tang State. Luo Kedi, however, expressed his discontent to Xiong Chumo, fearing that Ye Hongyu might collude with the Academy. Xiong Chumo dismissed these concerns, stating that he, as Hierarch, understood Ye Hongyu's nature as a Tao-Addict and was confident the situation would not last long. Back at the Academy, the atmosphere gradually became livelier.
Tang Xiaotang was still visibly upset, thinking about Chen Pipi. Her fellow students tried to comfort her, suggesting she seek him out at Zhishou Temple, even "to the ends of the earth." Ning Que, still recovering from his injuries and leaning on crutches, also felt a deep sadness.
He confided that he could search for Sangsang "to the ends of the earth," but with her and Teacher (Fuzi/Sage) now in heaven, he didn't know where to look, feeling his own world had collapsed. His elder brothers and sisters noticed his prolonged melancholy, prompting him to openly declare his belief that Sangsang was not truly dead and would return, and he must make her return.
He recalled sweet memories with Sangsang, swinging together by the pond, imagining a peaceful life at the Academy, away from the House of Calligraphy and Yanming Lake, raising geese for Second Senior Brother, washing clothes and cooking for everyone, herding cattle for Teacher, and grinding ink for Third Senior Sister. The thought of this dream now shattered brought him immense sorrow. Ning Que learned of Chao Xiaoshu's triumphant return to the capital and eagerly went to meet him.
Their reunion was filled with emotion, and Ning Que symbolically paid off a past debt by offering Chao Xiaoshu many fried eggs, a playful gesture for Sangsang. They reminisced about their brief yet impactful encounters over the years, noting how five years felt like twenty. Chao Xiaoshu asked if Sangsang would truly return, to which Ning Que affirmed, "Recently, I don't know why I always feel like she's right here on earth, and she is getting closer to me."
Still using crutches, Ning Que visited the Imperial Palace. Li Hupo presented him with a letter from West Shrine proposing peace talks. Ning Que agreed to the negotiations, but stressed that Tang State should not accept unfavorable terms. He reasoned that both sides were exhausted, and a truce was anticipated. He advised Li Hupo to negotiate confidently, explicitly stating that neither he nor the Academy should officially participate in the talks to preserve their option to resume hostilities if needed.
Both Xia Tian (the Empress Dowager) and Li Hupo expressed concern for Ning Que's injuries, with Xia Tian ordering the imperial kitchen to prepare Os Draconis soup for him. Outside, Chao Xiaoshu voiced his worries about Princess Li Yu's fate, given that she was imprisoned. Ning Que believed Xia Tian would not execute her, as she wouldn't have lived this long otherwise.
However, Chao Xiaoshu feared that Li Yu's loyalists might challenge Xia Tian by exploiting her identity as a Demonic Cult Saint Virgin, causing further unrest, which would ultimately not benefit Li Yu. Ning Que dismissed this, stating he did not want to see more such deaths in the capital, and the two friends shared a drink.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Maid, unbeknownst to Sangsang, located the Butcher and the Drinker, who had survived the previous evernight and had been hiding for a thousand years. She commanded the Butcher to go to West Shrine and inform Hierarch Xiong Chumo that she was returning to Peach Mountain. She also ordered the Drinker to deliver her carriage to Ning Que in Tang State, along with a cryptic message: "every death in the world is a long-awaited reunion."
The Butcher and the Drinker, terrified, confirmed their understanding and departed, repeatedly confirming the messages to each other. Sangsang, sensing the Heavenly Maid's malicious intent, confronted her, accusing her of wickedness. The Heavenly Maid confessed her plan to kill Ning Que to sever the deep connection (worldly ties and mutual life-source) between him and Sangsang.
This, she explained, was necessary to purge Sage's "human spirit" from her body, allowing her and Sangsang to fully merge and ascend to heaven to defeat Sage. Sangsang questioned how the seemingly frail Butcher and Drinker could defeat Ning Que and the Academy, but Heavenly Maid, warning against underestimating them, asserted that these two ancient beings, survivors of the last evernight, possessed immense power, capable of destroying everything Sage built, even Peach Mountain itself.
Xia Tian and Ning Que summoned Hua Shanyue for questioning. Hua Shanyue, expecting death, was instead offered a chance for atonement by Xia Tian: to join the North-Defending Army. Ning Que emphasized Xia Tian's leniency in sparing his life and his Hua family's reputation. Hua Shanyue requested a proper farewell with Princess Li Yu before his departure.
While Xia Tian agreed, Ning Que intervened, insisting that as a prisoner, Li Yu could not see anyone, and Hua Shanyue could only bid her farewell from outside the Princess mansion gate. Soon after, the Butcher arrived at West Shrine. Xiong Chumo, recognizing him as a legendary survivor of the last evernight, quickly grasped the significance of Heavenly Maid's message about her return to Peach Mountain.
As New Year's Day approached, Ning Que went to the BESTORE Shop to buy festive snacks. Out of habit, he asked for extra crisp winter jujube, Sangsang's favorite, only to pause as the realization of her absence washed over him when the shopkeeper asked if it was for his "wife." On New Year's Eve, he found solace in Mo Shanshan's company.
Both contemplative, Ning Que began to drink, reminiscing about Sage, Yanse, and Sangsang, as well as Old Ma and the Tang King. Mo Shanshan listened with a quiet sorrow, regretting that she had not been by his side during those pivotal moments and didn't even know what they looked like. Fueled by alcohol, Ning Que spoke of his twenty years with Sangsang, noting this was only the second time they hadn't spent the New Year together.
He confessed that he had never feared losing her, always knowing she was there, but now she was truly gone, and he felt he had abandoned her in their home while he sought revenge. In her celestial realm, Sangsang desperately yearned to return to Ning Que and their home, but Heavenly Maid coldly forbade it, demanding Sangsang forget him and sever all ties. Sangsang fiercely resisted, clinging to her identity as "Ning Que's Sangsang."
The Heavenly Maid asserted her dominance, declaring that all must bow to her, but Sangsang retorted that Ning Que would never bow to anyone. Back with Mo Shanshan, Ning Que, overwhelmed by his grief, wondered what Sangsang was doing alone and what he should do. He questioned if it was "shameless" to confide in Mo Shanshan, knowing she understood him more than anyone besides Sangsang.
Mo Shanshan, in turn, acknowledged her understanding of him, yet conceded his knowledge of her was limited. Reflecting on a lesson from Second Brother about detaching from worldly affairs ("if you seek the Heavenly Dao, don't ask about worldly affairs"), she expressed her enduring affection for Ning Que. She understood that while she liked him and he liked her, a deeper relationship was unlikely now. She found contentment in this, seeing it as fate, and was not saddened, acknowledging that Sangsang, after all, was Heaven itself.
