Ever Night Season 2 Episode 41 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recap
Li Manman intercepted the Drinker and Butcher on their way to Peach Mountain, explaining that his junior brothers were at West Shrine, and he intended to stop them from reaching it. Drinker, asserting he was acting on Heavenly Maid's orders, initiated an attack by throwing his wine gourd. Li Manman effortlessly deflected it, and their intense battle left both of them internally injured. Butcher then lunged at Li Manman with his cleaver, prompting Chao Xiaoshu to step in.
Butcher was shocked to discover that Chao Xiaoshu had hidden a sword within his body by feigning the loss of his cultivation, realizing that he and Drinker had fallen into an Academy trap. He taunted Chao Xiaoshu, believing his lack of cultivation made him powerless, but Chao Xiaoshu countered that they were merely waiting for the right moment. Enraged, Butcher struck Chao Xiaoshu, gravely wounding him.
However, this action released the hidden sword, which mortally wounded Butcher, who collapsed, spitting blood, and died. Chao Xiaoshu, satisfied, declared their mission accomplished before succumbing to his own injuries. Li Manman cried out in anguish, urging Chao Xiaoshu to stay awake. Heavenly Maid, observing the scene, disparagingly remarked on the waste of the "two old ants'" cultivation. Heavenly Maid, witnessing Drinker and Butcher's defeat, commanded Xiong Chumo to lead West Shrine divine officials in an assault on Ning Que.
Ye Hongyu and Longqing, however, joined Ning Que's side. Xiong Chumo, asserting his authority and reminding them of Heavenly Maid's watch, chanted for the Brilliance of Light. Unexpectedly, the divine radiance enveloped Ning Que instead. Ning Que, recognizing Sangsang's secret assistance, felt a surge of confidence and used the power to defeat Xiong Chumo's forces. Heavenly Maid swiftly intervened, preventing Sangsang from further aiding Ning Que through their shared natal connection. Ning Que internally thanked Sangsang.
He then acknowledged Longqing's support and, in an attempt to sway Ye Hongyu, revealed the truth she had long sought: Xiong Chumo had assaulted her in the past. Ye Hongyu reacted with profound shock. Meanwhile, Liu Bai arrived to challenge Heavenly Maid. He expressed his regret for not having lived in previous eras to fight legendary figures like Ke Haoran and Liansheng, declaring his intention to fight the ultimate power now that Heavenly Maid was in the human world.
Heavenly Maid dismissed his challenge, but Liu Bai defiantly drew his sword. His attack was met by an invisible barrier, which slowly eroded his sword until only the scabbard remained. Liu Bai then unexpectedly pierced the barrier with his finger, attempting a final blow. Heavenly Maid, however, anticipated his move and, in a fit of rage, made him instantly vanish.
She then questioned if Liu Bai's defeat was part of the Academy's plan, reasserting her role as destiny, declaring, "Man proposes, God disposes, and I am this Heaven." Heavenly Maid then turned her attention to Ning Que, who boldly declared that the Academy's plan was to challenge destiny itself. He gambled on her remembering him and fearing his proximity due to their natal connection. Heavenly Maid, angered, threatened to erase everything he cared about from the world.
Ning Que stood firm, proclaiming his willingness to face death if it benefited the world. Enraged, Heavenly Maid commanded, "Now burn," and set Chen Pipi ablaze. Ning Que and Tang Xiaotang cried out in despair. Just as all hope seemed lost, a miraculous rain poured down, extinguishing the flames. Ning Que, recognizing this as Sage's intervention, gratefully thanked his master. Heavenly Maid, frustrated, conceded that the human world possessed its own powerful forces.
The Sage's voice then gently instructed Ning Que to proceed with his task and leave Chen Pipi's care to others. Ning Que, determined to complete the most vital part of the Academy's plan—to bring Sangsang home and tether Heavenly Maid to the human world—entered the Light Palace. He called out for Sangsang, demanding she reveal herself and listing their shared possessions as if discussing a property division.
Unseen by him due to Heavenly Maid's sensory block, Sangsang cried out, affirming her presence and her longing for their old life at House of Calligraphy, saying, "Young Master, I want to go home." Ning Que, speaking to the invisible Sangsang, stated he never truly wished to part with her and urged her to return their shared belongings and, most importantly, herself.
He reasoned that their deep bond persisted even with his senses blocked, pointing to her past actions, such as sending Drinker to return his items, and her intention to kill Chen Pipi, which he knew he couldn't allow because they owed Chen Pipi a life. Ning Que finally saw Heavenly Maid and immediately insisted that she was Sangsang, despite her changed appearance.
He argued that her true nature, inherent and destined, was still present, proving she was both Heavenly Maid and the Daughter of the Deceased, and their unique bond could not be unilaterally severed. Heavenly Maid coldly corrected him, stating there was only Heavenly Maid and no Sangsang.
Ning Que pleaded with her to return home, recounting the horrific famine where he found her among corpses, passionately arguing that she was his only source of light and reason to live during his darkest times, and that she had, in a sense, saved him. As he tried to approach her, Heavenly Maid used her powerful thought-power to repel him, remarking, "Indeed, heaven and man are separated."
Undeterred, Ning Que continued, explaining that human life, though brief, gained meaning from emotions and memories, a bond he and Sangsang shared uniquely, making them inseparable. Heavenly Maid insisted Sangsang was dead, but Ning Que countered that the return of the big black carriage proved she was alive, and he could still feel her presence. Heavenly Maid revealed that the Sage's human power and their "disgusting natal connection" were trapping her, preventing her peaceful return to heaven.
She demanded Ning Que sever the bond. Ning Que vehemently refused, stating it would be like taking his own life. Heavenly Maid then offered him eternal life in exchange for his submission, but Ning Que scorned the offer, asking what good was immortality without love. Heavenly Maid again ordered him to break their "filthy natal connection."
Ning Que asserted that Heavenly Maid could not truly sever her human ties and believed she would not kill him, as her identity was now intertwined with human experience, telling her, "As long as it is life, it doesn't want to die, nor does it want to lose itself. So we can only live together, or die together."
He accused her of hypocrisy, pointing out her human emotions and fear, which prevented her from going to the capital, killing him, or even seeing him. Heavenly Maid, deeply affected, tried to persuade him to accept an eternal life with her. However, Ning Que rejected this, insisting on a relationship between two independent individuals and urging her to return to House of Calligraphy with him to live their ordinary lives.
Enraged by his defiance, Heavenly Maid struck him down with a simple gesture. Ning Que struggled to rise, still resolute in his determination to take her home. Heavenly Maid, unwilling to be constrained by anyone, demanded complete submission from all. She brutally attacked Ning Que, leaving him severely wounded, but he defiantly refused to yield, reminding her of their bond at Burning Sea and chanting about his blades protecting Sangsang and righting wrongs.
Heavenly Maid scorned his words, stating that as Heavenly Maid, no one could influence her will, even if their natal bond was the Academy's most important part of the plan. Sangsang, unseen, pleaded for Ning Que's release.
Despite the pain, Ning Que vowed that even if torn to pieces, he would never give up, and as long as he lived, he would remember every intimate detail of their life together, from her cooking and washing to her bathing and braiding his hair. Exasperated, Heavenly Maid yelled, "Enough."
