Love on the Turquoise Land Episode 21 Recap
> Love on the Turquoise Land Recap
The meticulously planned operation concluded successfully, meeting all its objectives. To celebrate their hard-won victory, Quecha joyfully prepared soul-reviving noodles for everyone. As they enjoyed the meal with some lighthearted banter, Lin Xirou, using Jiang Baichuan's phone, contacted Xing Shen. She inquired about her captured companions, to which Xing Shen replied that while the Earth Fiends were resilient, his impatient hunters might lose control if the situation dragged on.
Lin Xirou, in turn, highlighted that Jiang Baichuan was not as tough as the Earth Fiends and proposed a direct exchange: Jiang Baichuan and four hunters she held captive for her four companions. She also asked for Lin Ling, but Xing Shen denied knowing her whereabouts. Xing Shen then countered, offering not only the four Earth Fiends but also an old acquaintance of hers, Chen Fu, as additional bargaining chips.
He then introduced a crucial demand: Yan Tuo must also be part of the exchange. Lin Xirou was visibly enraged by this condition, her barely contained fury causing nearby objects to tremble slightly. Meanwhile, Feng Mi visited Yan Tuo, bringing him food and expressing her deep concern, as he had refused meals earlier. Yan Tuo, looking gaunt and disheveled, asked for a mirror to see if he still looked human.
Feng Mi, deeply saddened, questioned if throwing away his life was truly worth it. Yan Tuo confided that he had believed she would be the one person to trust him, but Feng Mi asked how she could after everything that had happened. Lin Xirou then burst in, furious, and confronted Yan Tuo. She demanded to know when he started colluding with the South Mountain Hunters and revealed that they were proposing an exchange that specifically requested him.
Yan Tuo was stunned. Lin Xirou recounted a childhood anecdote about him lying over money for a CD, highlighting his past deceit and her philosophy of openly pursuing desires, but now declared she was done giving him chances. Yan Tuo, in turn, apologized, asserting he had always considered her family and genuinely wanted to live peacefully with her. However, he disclosed that reading a diary had exposed her as his parents' killer.
He vehemently stated she was unworthy of the name Lin Xirou or even a human name. Seizing an opportunity, Yan Tuo quickly pulled a needle from his bracelet and, catching Lin Xirou off guard, slashed her face. Lin Xirou's expression immediately darkened with terrifying rage. Separately, Xing Shen called Nie Jiuluo to inform her about the hostage exchange. He explained that Lin Xirou, using Jiang Baichuan's phone, had called to negotiate.
He also mentioned that he had already secured Lin Ling in a safe location and could use her as leverage. Nie Jiuluo was surprised to hear Lin Xirou mention Lin Ling, as she hadn't known of her rescue. Xing Shen then revealed he had added Yan Tuo to the exchange terms, believing this was a way to rescue him from Lin Xirou's confinement.
Nie Jiuluo was enraged, arguing that Lin Xirou already suspected Yan Tuo, and this move would only confirm his betrayal, putting his life in grave danger. Xing Shen defended his action by saying it would create confusion for the enemy, but Nie Jiuluo accused him of acting solely out of self-interest. That night, Nie Jiuluo stealthily entered Yan Tuo's home, finding it empty.
A stark bloodstain on the floor made her heart sink, confirming her suspicion that Yan Tuo had been severely wounded and taken away. The following day, she awoke from a nightmare, deeply worried about Yan Tuo's safety. Gazing at a sculpture she created, her resolve hardened. She decided to investigate every asset of Roushan Group to uncover Yan Tuo's whereabouts, determined to find him.
She then instructed Big Head to thoroughly investigate Roushan Group's assets, emphasizing the need for detailed information. Yan Tuo was taken to a deep, dark cave, Lin Xirou's former dwelling, perpetually devoid of sunlight and filled with an eerie atmosphere. There, Lin Xirou conversed with Yan Tuo about humanity's fear of the unknown.
Yan Tuo questioned her desire to be human given her disdain for them, to which she explained her kind also feared the dark and would do anything for their kin's peace. Yan Tuo challenged this, pointing out humans earned their rights through effort, not bloodshed. Lin Xirou countered by criticizing humanity's destructive tendencies, lamenting that her simple wish for a sunlit home was condemned as evil.
She then informed him that this dark place, her origin, would now be his home. Yan Tuo, however, felt he had no home left. Lin Xirou admitted he was the only reason she could maintain her human pretense and that without him, she too lost her home. She absolved him of blame for his deceptions, attributing them to her own self-deception.
From this point, she declared an end to such illusions, dismissing the concept of "home" and affirming her primary allegiance to her own kind and clan, thereby drawing an unequivocal line between humans and fiends. Meanwhile, the wound on Lin Xirou's face worsened. Xiong Hei observed her injury, and she explained that it served as a constant reminder never to trust humans again. She had also put her snake necklace back on.
Lin Xirou then informed Xiong Hei that she had deployed all her available personnel to search for Lin Ling. Xiong Hei pledged to find Lin Ling, but Lin Xirou replied somberly, "I hope it's not too late." Elsewhere, Xing Shen made a startling discovery during his research. Prompted by a colleague's question, Xing Shen theorized that Earth Fiends originated from the genetic fusion of humans and other species.
He deduced that Lin Xirou intended to use Yuwang Meat, which possessed the dual capability of both fusing and stripping genes, to reverse the process and revert to being fully human. Xing Shen realized the profound implications of Yuwang Meat's dual nature, capable of both immense good and terrible evil. As the New Year approached, Quecha distributed festive gifts, bringing cheer to the gathering. Amidst the celebrations, Nie Jiuluo arrived.
Unrecognized by many newcomers, she drew her Mad Blade and formally introduced herself as the current Mad Blade. She explained her complicated history, including the loss of her parents and mentor, her initial desire to leave the Hunter life, and how she secretly inherited the Mad Blade mantle, keeping her identity hidden as per tradition, with only Jiang Baichuan and Xing Shen knowing. She admitted to once believing Earth Fiends were a relic of the past.
However, she now revealed that all critical intelligence and progress against the humanoid Earth Fiends had come from Yan Tuo, who had risked his life to assist them. With Yan Tuo now missing, and their collaboration potentially exposed, maintaining her hidden identity was futile. Therefore, she chose to return, reveal herself, and unite with the South Mountain Hunters, noting their current possession of four Earth Fiends offered a strategic advantage.
Xing Shen privately confronted Nie Jiuluo, accusing her of returning out of personal feelings for Yan Tuo, rather than for the collective good. He questioned Yan Tuo's innocence, suggesting his only motive was revenge, with no regard for the lives of the hunters. Nie Jiuluo retorted sharply, asking if his deliberate betrayal of Yan Tuo had achieved any positive outcomes.
Their heated argument was cut short by Yu Rong, who intervened, reminding them that such internal discord, especially with Mad Dog, Mad Blade, and Ghost Whip finally united, would lead to certain defeat. Yu Rong emphasized that despite differing goals, they must find a common path: confronting Lin Xirou to rescue both Jiang Baichuan and Yan Tuo. Xing Shen then announced they could not wait for Lin Xirou's response and must take decisive action.
Yu Rong elaborated on the first part of the plan: since Lin Ling was vital to Lin Xirou, her capture would prompt a frantic search, and Nie Jiuluo would try to convince Lin Ling to move to their base for better protection.
Xing Shen then assigned Yu Rong to further interrogate the five captured Earth Fiends for more intelligence, while Big Head and Shan Qiang were tasked with a comprehensive search of Roushan Group's assets to pinpoint Yan Tuo's location and launch an immediate rescue. Xing Shen apologized to everyone, acknowledging that their New Year would not be peaceful.
Shortly after, Nie Er, an old acquaintance, approached Nie Jiuluo with candy, welcoming her back and chanting an old South Mountain rhyme, signifying the full assembly of the South Mountain Hunters.
