Love on the Turquoise Land Episode 5 Recap
> Love on the Turquoise Land Recap
Nie Jiuluo was informed by her agent, Mr. Lu, that her latest, previously deemed "unmarketable," artworks had caught the eye of a mysterious buyer who prepaid for three pieces and wished to meet in person to discuss art. Nie Jiuluo was skeptical about the unusual meeting location – a cemetery – but Mr. Lu defended it as a profound setting. Upon arrival, Nie Jiuluo realized the buyer was Yan Tuo, who joked about her customer service.
Yan Tuo expressed that he saw rebirth in her work, contrary to prevailing critiques of suffocation and confinement. Nie Jiuluo challenged his interpretation, suggesting that if he truly understood her art, he would feel the negative emotions that mirrored his own hidden struggles beneath his carefree facade. Yan Tuo conceded her insight and apologized for his past rash actions, hoping for an honest conversation. He promised to leave her alone if she still perceived him as mad.
Feeling uneasy in the cemetery, Nie Jiuluo urged him to state his purpose. Yan Tuo then revealed that he brought her there to show her a "piece of work" – his mother's tombstone. He explained that his biological mother, Lin Xirou, shared the same name as the current, powerful head of Roushan Group, whom he believed was responsible for his family's ruin and his mother's death.
He recalled a traumatic childhood memory: his father returning with a woman named Li Shuangxiu while his mother was pregnant. After his mother's death, Li Shuangxiu, now known as Ms. Lin, became the lady of their household. He had considered her family until he discovered his mother's diary, which exposed the truth. Yan Tuo explained that Gou Ya, a figure they both knew, was placed in a welfare home by Lin Xirou.
He suspected Lin Xirou possessed the key to transforming Earth Fiends into human form and sought Nie Jiuluo's help to avenge his mother. Nie Jiuluo suggested they first needed to understand Lin Xirou's true nature. Yan Tuo emphasized Lin Xirou's unusual connection to Earth Fiends, proposing their cooperation as a crucial opportunity. Nie Jiuluo, wary of his motives, compared him to a snake, but Yan Tuo countered by mentioning her aquaphobia, subtly threatening to repeat their previous incident.
Despite her disgust, Nie Jiuluo recognized his exceptional nature. Yan Tuo sarcastically praised her artistic integrity, and Nie Jiuluo agreed to accompany him to see another "sculpture." Nie Jiuluo led Yan Tuo to an abandoned temple in South Mountain, where wall paintings depicted the ancient lore of Earth Fiends. She explained how a meteor strike in South Mountain transformed the land and gave rise to light-fearing, carnivorous beasts.
Imperial troops drove them underground, and the remaining soldiers became the South Mountain Hunters, sworn enemies of the Earth Fiends. She revealed that those injured by beast-like Earth Fiends would develop a filmy tissue over their wounds, likening it to "rooting and sprouting." Nie Jiuluo admitted sharing this knowledge broke their rules, but she anticipated becoming an outsider soon. She clarified that humanoid Earth Fiends might exhibit different characteristics.
Yan Tuo questioned if she was one of the South Mountain Hunters, like his kidnappers, but Nie Jiuluo avoided a direct answer before dismissing him. Meanwhile, Sun Shifu awoke to find himself confined in a small room. A man named Xing Shen appeared, telling him he had contracted a contagious disease requiring isolation and that his condition required sunlight for treatment.
Sun Shifu, terrified, recognized the symptoms described in the South Mountain lore: Earth Fiends fear fire and light; wounds must be cauterized within three days, or "red threads pierce pupils," sealing one's fate. He saw another patient, whom he called Ma Hanzi, seemingly in a worse condition. Sun Shifu demanded to be released to a proper hospital, but Xing Shen insisted he must remain.
His condition later worsened drastically, causing him to become manic with bloodshot eyes, resembling an enraged beast. At the hospital, Big Head, desperate to see Mrs. Hua, tried to push past guards. His comrades urged caution, reminding him that their "ice factory base" was compromised and they were exposed. Big Head bemoaned leaving Mrs. Hua alone. A nurse admonished them for the disturbance.
Big Head, with a broken leg, could only watch helplessly as a captured South Mountain Hunter was taken away. Lin Ling visited Yan Tuo, bringing him food and secretly informing him that Gou Ya's identity was fabricated. Yan Tuo recounted Xiong Hei and Gou Ya's incredibly fast healing from severe injuries. He then shared his theory about Earth Fiends – ancient creatures that acquired the ability to mimic human form, remaining beasts beneath the surface.
Lin Ling played a recording she made during Yan Tuo's abduction, where Ms. Lin spoke of a "blood bag descendant." Upon replaying it, they detected a peculiar, non-human frequency. Lin Ling speculated that if Xiong Hei and Gou Ya were not human, then Ms. Lin might also be an Earth Fiend. Lin Ling later secretly discovered and photographed documents hidden in a compartment by Ms. Lin.
She showed the photos to Yan Tuo and recounted their childhood discovery of a mysterious underground cave at the farm, filled with what appeared to be experimental subjects. They now suspected it was Lin Xirou's secret base for transforming Earth Fiends into humans. Lin Ling expressed fear and suggested stopping their investigation, but Yan Tuo refused, convinced that retreating from evil would only allow it to grow stronger.
He assured her he had met someone who could help them uncover the truth. Nie Jiuluo was on a call with Mr. Lu, discussing her "Forgiveness Duck" artwork when he mentioned a recent call from Jiang Baichuan. Following this, Nie Jiuluo instructed Mr. Lu to contact Yan Tuo again, expressing her desire to meet him. Yan Tuo, having received the invitation for a meeting at the Baogeland Hotel, dressed formally.
To his surprise, Nie Jiuluo was waiting for him at a simple fast-food restaurant across the street. She opened the conversation by stating she had a companion (Sun Shifu) held by his organization and demanded to know his whereabouts and ensure his safety. As they ordered, Nie Jiuluo used the lengthy preparation of a simple braised dish to metaphorically convey the challenging and transient nature of their proposed cooperation. Yan Tuo pressed her for direct terms.
Nie Jiuluo's first demand for their collaboration was for Yan Tuo to add her on WeChat. She insisted on a "pay-as-you-go" arrangement for their interactions, explaining that she wished to limit her entanglement with him. Yan Tuo agreed to her terms. At a secret location, Xiong Hei interrogated the captured South Mountain Hunter, demanding information about their base, numbers, and plans. The Hunter defiantly gave evasive and mythical answers, speaking of the "South Heavenly Gate" and a "celestial army."
Xiong Hei offered him gruesome choices for death, but the Hunter only joked about wanting to be buried with Mrs. Hua, implying her dire condition. Lin Xirou arrived and revealed to the Hunter that she was the one who had broken his leg twenty years ago. She then privately commented that Yan Tuo, despite his carefree demeanor, harbored deep thoughts.
Lin Xirou reiterated that Yan Tuo was her son and ordered the interrogation of the old Hunter to continue to extract information about the "Mad Blade." Later, Yan Tuo followed Lin Xirou to the farm. Guided by his childhood memories, he located the entrance to the mysterious underground cave, where he and Lin Ling had once stumbled upon experimental subjects. He suspected this was Lin Xirou's secret facility for transforming Earth Fiends.
