Guardian Episode 21 Recap
> Guardian Recap
After a day and night had passed, Zhu Hong, still reeling from the revelation that Shen Wei was the Black Robed Envoy, stared blankly as if seeing him for the first time. Pressed by Chu Shuzhi, she shared the astonishing secret, which she herself was still struggling to comprehend, with everyone present. Despite Zhao Yunlan's sudden and inexplicable blindness, which deeply concerned Shen Wei, the cause remained a mystery.
Shen Wei, too worried to think clearly, referred Zhao Yunlan to his college classmate, Doctor Cheng, a human physician. Doctor Cheng's examination confirmed that Zhao Yunlan's cornea, retina, lens, and optic nerve were all normal, yet he remained blind. Despite this baffling condition, Zhao Yunlan remained nonchalant, joking about his blindness and even urging Shen Wei not to miss his university class.
However, Shen Wei found it impossible to concentrate during his lecture, his mind consumed with worry for Zhao Yunlan. The moment class ended, he abruptly dismissed his students and rushed back to the hospital. While Shen Wei was away, Da Qing stayed with Zhao Yunlan, attempting to cheer him up by playing a series of recorded messages from their colleagues expressing sympathy.
Zhao Yunlan reacted with amusement to most of them but was intrigued when Zhu Hong's voice came on, reading from a book titled "Ancient Secret Anecdotes." The passage described the "four hallows" and mentioned Kunlun, a figure said to be as mighty as the Black Robed Envoy and capable of sealing these hallows. Zhao Yunlan was puzzled as to why the Envoy had never mentioned Kunlun.
Upon hearing the name, Da Qing was suddenly seized by an excruciating headache, clearly struggling with a deeply suppressed memory. Seeing Da Qing's distress, Zhao Yunlan entrusted him to Doctor Cheng, who diagnosed Da Qing with dissociative amnesia. Doctor Cheng offered to use hypnosis to help him recover his lost memories, which Da Qing emphatically agreed to, feeling they were crucial to his existence. Ignoring his own impairment, Zhao Yunlan decided to leave the hospital on his own.
He nearly stumbled but was caught by his father, Zhao Xinchi, who then escorted him home. Zhao Xinchi sternly advised Zhao Yunlan to distance himself from Shen Wei, asserting that being involved with him would only lead to endless trouble. Zhao Yunlan, known for disregarding his father's counsel, defiantly stated that Shen Wei's sincerity was what truly mattered to him, regardless of his identity.
He also noted a surprising, uncharacteristic shift in his father's demeanor, finding him unusually profound and questioning if he was an imposter. Zhao Xinchi cryptically remarked that "what you see may not be true" before leaving his blind son to navigate the stairs alone. Shortly after Zhao Yunlan's return, Shen Wei arrived, visibly frustrated by Zhao Yunlan's reckless departure from the hospital.
As Zhao Yunlan lightheartedly probed Shen Wei about the "Ancient Secret Anecdotes" and Kunlun, Shen Wei, agitated by the topic, quickly deflected the conversation by urging Zhao Yunlan to answer a phone call from Zhu Hong. Zhu Hong excitedly shared news about the triennial Sub-animals Bazaar, believing it might hold a cure for Zhao Yunlan's blindness due to the presence of rare talents and treasures.
They immediately set off, only to find the bazaar disappointingly deserted due to the long-standing fragmentation among the Sub-animal tribes. Meanwhile, Zhu Hong had already attempted to enter the forbidden area of the Sub-animals but was stopped by the guard, Mr. Jia, who was mysteriously attacked shortly after. At the bazaar, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei encountered Yaqing in a bitter conflict with Zhu Hong and the presbyter of the Flowers, Ying Chun.
When Yaqing attacked Zhu Hong, Shen Wei intervened, appearing as the Black Robed Envoy. During the intense confrontation, Zhu Hong inadvertently called the Envoy "Wei" before quickly correcting herself. The Black Robed Envoy firmly declared that while the Sub-animals' internal conflicts were their own affair, colluding with Dixing forces and interfering with human lives crossed an unforgivable line.
Ying Chun then proposed a resolution to the Sub-animals' decades of discord: an election for the patriarch would be held in three months to unify their tribes, a challenge Yaqing accepted. Following this, Zhu Hong's uncle, Serpent Four, pulled her aside and entrusted her with a piece of wood, revealing it was the key to the forbidden area, which would only open if a ten-thousand-year-old divine tree could be revitalized.
Later, Guo Changcheng and Cong Bo excitedly informed Zhao Yunlan about a renowned "magic doctor" in Dragon City, rumored to cure even terminal illnesses. Despite skepticism from other colleagues who dismissed it as a charlatan's scam, Shen Wei, desperate to find a cure, insisted they investigate every possible lead. Accompanied by Da Qing and Zhu Hong, they brought Zhao Yunlan to a dilapidated clinic.
The arrogant Doctor Feng took offense when Shen Wei politely questioned his medical methods, accused them of trying to steal his skills, and summarily ejected them. As they were leaving, Shen Wei spotted Professor Ouyang, his university's principal, entering the clinic. Shen Wei waited for him, and Professor Ouyang effusively praised Doctor Feng's extraordinary abilities, recounting how the doctor had instantly cured his chronic knee osteoarthritis. This testament deeply swayed Shen Wei, convincing him to pursue this option further.
