Listening Snow Tower Episode 44 Recap, Plot

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Xiao Yiqing orchestrated a plan for Ren Feiyang to pose as Consort Li's long-lost son, using a family heirloom. Consort Li, deeply convinced, showered Ren Feiyang with affection and food. She pressed him for details like his birth date, which he claimed was in December when he was adopted, making her even more certain he was her child.

Ren Feiyang, under the guise of searching for his lost lover, "Ye Feng Sha," in the Blue Mountains, attempted to elicit information from Consort Li. He explained he had been chased by assassins, separated from his love, and had spent all his money trying to find her, which is why he nearly pawned the jade pendant.

Consort Li offered him a position as her personal guard at King Zhen Nan's Manor with a better salary, but he declined, insisting he must continue his search for his beloved. She then offered to help him find her, but Ren Feiyang stated he had already traced her whereabouts to the Blue Mountains.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mo was perplexed by a golden needle retrieved from Moon Sect by Xiao Yiqing, a rare and uniquely shaped item he couldn't find in any medical books and hoped Xue Qingming might recognize. Shu Jingrong inquired about the condition of the women in Blue Mountains Cave, asking if he had seen such symptoms before.

Dr. Mo explained that Xiao Yiqing had been investigating similar cases from over a decade ago, where people were rumored to be "Mind Controlled" by a powerful voodoo capable of manipulating human minds. This voodoo had caused widespread havoc, even affecting Bai Di, Shu Jingrong's master, who was severely injured while preventing the controlled individuals from harming innocents.

Bai Di’s life was saved by the Queen Consort of King Zhen Nan’s Manor, which is why he later sent Qing Lan and Qing Yu to protect the Crown Prince as a token of gratitude. Dr. Mo recounted that none of those who were mind-controlled had survived, and the incident led to the disappearance of the Golden Blade Huo family from the pugilistic world.

He added that if Xiao Yiqing hadn't rediscovered these afflicted women, the existence of Mind Control would have remained unknown. Ren Feiyang continued his charade, naming his beloved as Ye Feng Sha, and recounted a frightening encounter in the Blue Mountains with a "walking dead" resident who attacked him when he sought information. Consort Li confirmed that such farmers existed in the Blue Mountains whose minds had been controlled, and their consciousness irreversibly lost.

She revealed the secret of the Moon God Flower from Moon Sect: when in bloom, its petals yield a deadly poisonous extract. If injected into a person's bloodstream, it gradually turns their appearance blue, making them gaunt, and eventually even their eyes turn blue as the poison deepens. Such individuals, if their heart remains undamaged, will live on indefinitely like puppets.

Consort Li further explained that this poison rapidly multiplies a person's inner energy, transforming them into fearless "suicide soldiers" who will even sacrifice themselves to kill their enemies. She cautioned Ren Feiyang that if Ye Feng Sha was indeed in the Blue Mountains, she would be in grave danger. Ming He, having learned that the Crown Prince was missing near Blue Mountains, likely poisoned, reprimanded Steward Chen for allowing Xiao Yiqing to gain military support.

Aware that Xiao Yiqing had discovered the route to the Blue Mountains, she ordered immediate heightened defenses and the transfer of the Moon Sect's "suicide soldiers" to another location to prepare for a potential attack. Meanwhile, Jia Ruo, after retrieving an item from the Moon God Flower in Holy Lake, departed for the River of Remembrance. There, he watched fireflies, feeling an unsettling sense of familiarity that made him question if it was connected to his past.

Ming He later found Jia Ruo and embraced him, expressing her longing for his constant presence. Jia Ruo reaffirmed his promise to protect her and Moon Sect as repayment for saving his life, which left Ming He disheartened, questioning if their bond was merely one of gratitude. Jia Ruo then coldly dismissed her, suggesting they return. Xiao Yiqing shared his findings with Shu Jingrong: Consort Li was revealed to be the daughter of the Golden Blade Huo family.

Decades ago, the Huo family and King Zhen Nan's Manor had a close relationship until the Huo family daughter fell in love with her beloved senior fellow disciple. Despite her father, Elder Huo's, disapproval, she eloped with her lover to a mountain village. Elder Huo then colluded with King Zhen Nan, fabricating a story that his daughter had been abducted by bandits, and, under the guise of eradicating them, had her lover killed.

Xiao Yiqing revealed that Consort Li had borne a child but was separated from him. It was deduced that she married King Zhen Nan for revenge and had cooperated with Moon Sect to harm the King's family, especially since people in that mountain village were found to be under Mind Control. Shu Jingrong acknowledged the conspiracy surrounding Consort Li. Later, Shu Jingrong made a heartfelt plea to Xiao Yiqing.

She asked him that if their operation against Moon Sect succeeded, he would spare Qing Lan, her Elder Brother, so she could take him back to Sand Valley to live a peaceful life away from conflict. Recalling how her master and Elder Brother had saved her life years ago, she felt it was her duty. Xiao Yiqing agreed, but inwardly, he was deeply saddened, realizing Qing Lan still held the most important place in her heart.

Shu Jingrong, too, felt conflicted, wishing to spend her life with Xiao Yiqing but burdened by her debt of gratitude to Qing Lan, believing Sand Valley was her destined path. The following day, Shu Jingrong led King Zhen Nan's army to the Blue Mountains, ostensibly to search for the missing Crown Prince. However, she was confronted by Ming He, who accused her of using the Crown Prince's disappearance as a pretext to invade Moon Sect.

Shu Jingrong retorted that if Moon Sect had nothing to hide, they should permit the search, implying concealed secrets otherwise. Ming He, refusing entry, warned Shu Jingrong against inciting conflict and ordered her forces to attack.

During the ensuing battle, Ming He took the opportunity to plant a Blood Venom into Shu Jingrong, declaring that soon, Shu Jingrong's own Blood Rose Sword would kill on Ming He's command, and she was curious to see how Xiao Yiqing would react to Shu Jingrong being mind-controlled. Just then, Xiao Yiqing arrived with his forces and immediately ordered his men to protect the injured Shu Jingrong and retreat to safety.

In the forest, Xiao Yiqing discovered an injured Jia Ruo. He observed that Jia Ruo's injuries were a consequence of the Mind Control's toll. Despite their rivalry, Xiao Yiqing chose not to attack him, instead questioning why Jia Ruo would sacrifice himself for Moon Sect's numerous evil deeds. Jia Ruo asserted that he was repaying Ming He for saving his life and intended to protect her and Moon Sect.

Sensing an opportunity to attack, Jia Ruo was surprised when Xiao Yiqing, instead of fighting, began to heal him, stating that he merely desired a fair fight between them. Jia Ruo, still bewildered, questioned Xiao Yiqing’s relentless determination to destroy Moon Sect, noting the immense cost it would entail. Xiao Yiqing argued that Moon Sect’s voodoo had harmed countless innocents, particularly the women of Blue Mountains, whose lives should not end this way.

Jia Ruo countered that Moon Sect's actions were to protect their palace. Unwavering, Xiao Yiqing declared that he would not cease until Moon Sect was utterly destroyed. Jia Ruo then vowed that their next encounter would be a fight to the death, promising not to show the same leniency Xiao Yiqing had. Before leaving, Xiao Yiqing offered Jia Ruo the golden needle he retrieved, asking if he recognized it as Ming He's. Jia Ruo dismissed it as an ordinary needle.

Xiao Yiqing then cryptically remarked that perhaps one day, when Jia Ruo found his life more tragic than those under Mind Control, he would understand Xiao Yiqing's actions. Following the battle, Nan Chu tasked Gao Mengfei with escorting the Crown Prince back to King Zhen Nan's Manor, fabricating a story that he was found in the Blue Mountains, as arranged with Xiao Yiqing. Meanwhile, Xiao Yiqing remained vigilantly by Shu Jingrong's side, distraught over her critical condition.

Xue Qingming, who had arrived to treat Shu Jingrong, explained that she was poisoned by the Moon God Flower, which was the cause of Mind Control. This poison gradually consumes a person's consciousness, altering their appearance and behavior, making them appear like "voodoo" to outsiders. Although Xue Qingming believed an antidote must exist and the poison was not yet deeply rooted, she admitted finding a cure would be challenging as they had no prior experience with the Moon God Flower.

Dr. Mo advised Xiao Yiqing to be cautious of Shu Jingrong's Blood Venom symptoms and to increase her guards, but Xiao Yiqing refused, declaring his unwavering commitment to stay by her side no matter what she became. Later, Xiao Yiqing remorsefully confessed that he regretted sending her into such danger. Shu Jingrong, upon waking, absolved him of blame, attributing her condition to her own carelessness.

She then asked Xiao Yiqing if he would kill her himself should she transform into a ruthless, puppet-like killer. Xiao Yiqing firmly reassured her, stating that they had endured too much loss and would protect what they cherished with their lives. He vowed that as long as there was a sliver of hope, he would never allow her to do anything foolish or abandon her.

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