Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 2 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Lin Xiao instructed Lin Dong on two important matters: first, to cultivate his martial arts more diligently if he intended to engage in fights, and second, not to argue with the clan leader, Lin Mu, who is older but less bold. When Lin Dong protested that Lin Mu had called his father useless, Lin Xiao acknowledged the truth in the statement.
He reminded Lin Dong that in the Great Yan Empire, martial arts are paramount, winners are revered, and losers must accept their fate. Lin Dong tried to argue that Lin Langtian had cheated, but Lin Xiao firmly stated that there were no tricks, he had simply lost, and forbade Lin Dong from ever mentioning Lin Langtian again.
Lin Xiao then added a third piece of advice: the medicine Lin Dong brought would not heal his injuries, so Lin Dong should take it himself to boost his cultivation, preventing future embarrassment. He then sent Lin Dong to check on Lin Qingtan, who later confirmed that their father wasn't truly hungry. Alone, Lin Xiao looked at a martial arts Yuan pill, lamenting its uselessness in his current state.
Lin Qingtan found Lin Dong feeling disheartened, questioning how he could ever defeat the Lei Family. She informed him that Lei Zhong, the most powerful of their family, was striving to reach the Heavenly Yuan Stage, while his younger brother, Lei Li, was pursuing the Earthly Yuan Stage. Lin Dong, frustrated by his own inability to perform more than four echoes of their family's Nine Echoes Penetrating Fist, angrily called both himself and his father useless.
Lin Qingtan urged him to stop speaking ill of them. Lin Dong then proposed an alternative strategy: since they couldn't confront the Lei Family head-on, he would capture a forest demon and make a deal with the Fire Python Tiger. Lin Qingtan expressed doubt, and when she tried to ask about Lin Langtian, Lin Dong quickly shut down the conversation, mindful of his father's warning. Lin Dong then ventured into the mountains to capture a forest demon.
During his chase, he accidentally stumbled upon Ling Qingzhu, tearing her clothes in the process. Despite the forest demon briefly harassing Ling Qingzhu, Lin Dong succeeded in catching it. Ling Qingzhu demanded he release the forest demon, but Lin Dong refused, explaining his promise to the Fire Python Tiger. Shocked that he intended to feed it to the tiger, Ling Qingzhu sternly threatened him before departing.
On his way back, Lin Dong discovered a sachet Ling Qingzhu had dropped and secretly pocketed it. His brief moment of glee was shattered by a commotion outside, where Lei Li and his men had arrived to forcefully take Lin Qingtan as a bride. Lei Li brazenly told Lin Xiao that he was taking Lin Qingtan as his wife, claiming the "deathly Yin energy" within her was an abomination and he was acting out of good intentions.
Lin Xiao defiantly declared that Lei Li could not take her as long as he was alive, but he was quickly overpowered and injured. Lin Dong rushed out, confronting Lei Li and demanding he release his family. Lei Li dismissed Lin Dong as a mere Yuan Dan Stage cultivator, mocking the Lin Family's weakness. As Lin Dong was about to be struck down, Lin Langtian intervened, blocking Lei Li's attack.
Lei Li, recognizing Lin Langtian as a genius from the Yuan Gate Sect who had reached Tempered Body at 12, Earthly Yuan at 14, and Heavenly Yuan at 16, acknowledged his power. Lin Langtian apologized to Lin Xiao for his late arrival, though when questioned about his presence, he asserted Qingyang Town was still his home. Lei Li dismissed Lin Langtian as a lone individual who shouldn't interfere.
Lin Qingtan then stepped forward, agreeing to go with Lei Li, but only on the condition that the Vermillion Blood Clotting Fruit be provided as her dowry. Lin Dong protested, claiming he could obtain the fruit, but Lin Qingtan insisted on making the demand to Lei Li, who readily agreed to the exchange. As Lin Qingtan was led away by Lei Li's men, Lin Dong desperately tried to stop her, but his efforts were futile.
Enraged, Lin Dong confronted Lin Langtian, accusing him of interfering in their family matters and calling him a traitor. Lin Langtian effortlessly bound Lin Dong to a tree, admonishing him not to act strong if his skills were not refined. Lin Dong's anger surged as he demanded to know why Lin Langtian would hand over their sister for nothing, despite Lin Langtian reminding him that Lin Qingtan was adopted.
Lin Dong retorted that she was more of a Lin than a "traitor piece of scum" like Lin Langtian. Lin Langtian calmly stated that if he had truly played dirty, Lin Xiao would already be dead, reminding Lin Dong that in the arena, neither seniority nor loyalty existed. Lin Langtian then approached Lin Xiao, reminiscing about their childhood memories.
Lin Xiao told Lin Langtian not to mind Lin Dong's immaturity, acknowledging that a confrontation with the Lei Family would not benefit them. He then shared a poignant memory: after losing to Lin Langtian, he had contemplated ending his own life. However, Lin Qingtan, a lost child, had appeared in the wilderness, crying for food and following him. He took her in, believing the gods had sent her to save his life.
Lin Langtian then revealed that allowing Lin Qingtan to marry into the Lei Family was part of a larger scheme, assuring Lin Xiao he would bring her back safely. Lin Xiao, understanding Lin Langtian's intentions, reminded him that Lin Qingtan, Lin Dong, and Lin Langtian himself were all his children, and Lin Langtian affirmed this. As Lin Langtian departed, he sensed Ling Qingzhu following him and invited her to reveal herself.
Ling Qingzhu complimented Yuan Gate disciples, and Lin Langtian introduced himself, recalling her performance at the Triple Sect Competition three years prior. Ling Qingzhu claimed not to remember him, subtly mocking his past "nameless" status, but Lin Langtian noted her current cultivation was above his. Ling Qingzhu then cut to the chase, asking if Lin Langtian had noticed the demonic aura emanating from the Lei Family.
Lin Langtian concurred that their "hearts were aligned," though Ling Qingzhu pointed out he would not have returned had Lei Li not intervened. Lin Langtian asserted that he no longer considered Qingyang Town his home since joining Yuan Gate and was solely focused on purging the Yimo, proposing they work together. Ling Qingzhu agreed, setting conditions: the credit for their actions would go to Lin Langtian, but the Yimo would be hers.
She confirmed that Lin Qingtan's wedding the next day would provide an excellent opportunity to infiltrate Steel Wood Manor, where Yimo were likely hiding due to its abundant Yuan Power. Lin Langtian confirmed this was part of his plan, explaining that the Lin Family had to be cautious with the powerful Lei Family, and the Yimo, whose Yuan Power had not fully recovered, were seeking mortal bodies. They agreed to meet at Steel Wood Manor the following day.
Ling Qingzhu then subtly highlighted the irony of Lin Langtian's earlier statement about not considering the town his home, after he confirmed his intention to visit his people first. Lin Langtian returned to his clan, where the clan leader expressed concern, fearing he might have been expelled from Yuan Gate or caused trouble. Lin Langtian assured him he was on an important mission from Elder Mu and that no harm would befall the clan.
He spoke curtly to the clan leader, who advised him to cultivate connections with powerful disciples at Yuan Gate for the family's advancement. Lin Langtian dismissed this, reminding the clan leader that he was taught only fists could turn things around, and he had been disdained in childhood precisely because he was not good with people. Meanwhile, Ling Qingzhu visited an inn and asked Madam Forty-Eight, a century-old bean pastry seller, for directions to the Lei Family.
Madam Forty-Eight cryptically explained that Qingyang Town lay on Lei Family land and offered Ling Qingzhu a needle and thread for her torn clothes. That night, Lin Dong attempted to sneak out to rescue Lin Qingtan, but Lin Xiao caught him. Lin Xiao warned his son to be careful, reminding him to retrieve the Vermillion Blood Clotting Fruit and save his sister, but not to risk his life recklessly. At another inn, Ying Huanhuan was trying to locate the Yimo.
She decided to use Yang Yuan stones as a reward for information, calling a public gathering and asking if anyone had witnessed anything strange. Master Yan of the Talisman Masters Association watched her, amused by her antics and openly admiring her beauty, despite Xuan Su's reminder that they were searching for the Ancestral Emblem and its hero, not a beautiful woman. Ling Qingzhu then appeared, warning Ying Huanhuan that her commotion would only alert the enemy.
Ying Huanhuan, recalling her past loss to Ling Qingzhu, defended her "crowd strategy" as more efficient for gathering clues. Ling Qingzhu simply told her to take her time and departed. After Ling Qingzhu left, Ying Huanhuan, still without concrete leads on the Yimo, turned to Madam Forty-Eight, who cryptically suggested someone else was already on the right path and mentioned a "strange beast" at Steel Wood Manor – the Fire Python Tiger.
Ying Huanhuan, realizing Ling Qingzhu might be heading there, quickly grabbed pastries and rushed off. Master Yan decided to search for the Ancestral Emblem in the mountains, leaving Xuan Su at the inn. Following a procession of Lei Family men, Lin Dong observed them cutting down trees in the forest to gather Yin energy for Lei Li. He spotted the Vermillion Blood Clotting Fruit in the hand of an attendant leading the group.
Seizing an opportunity, he blended in with the laborers carrying timber. The attendant at the rear of the group was secretly possessed by an Yimo. After arriving at Steel Wood Manor, Lin Dong quickly separated from the group and saw the possessed attendant abusing the Fire Python Tiger in its cage. Lin Dong intervened, loudly calling the attendant and claiming Lei Li needed him in the arena, successfully diverting the attendant's attention and leading him away from the tiger.
