Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 3 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Lin Dong apologized to the Fire-Python Tiger, explaining he hadn't caught a forest monster because a certain lady had found it too small and not chewy, insisting on its release. He then opened the cage door for the Fire-Python Tiger and departed. Meanwhile, Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu arrived at the Tiemu Mountain Villa.
Lin Langtian advised Ling Qingzhu to hold back if she sensed the Yi-Demon, suggesting they first lure it out of the villa to prevent trouble for the Lin Clan. He noted that the Tiemu Forest to the north, which could concentrate Yuan energy, would be ideal for their capture formation, increasing their chances of success. Ling Qingzhu acknowledged his thorough planning and reminded him of their agreement regarding the Yi-Demon.
Soon after, Ying Huanhuan arrived at the villa, but the gates were already closed. She loudly demanded they be opened but had to wait outside. In the arena, Lei Li was taunting Lin Qingtan, calling her "my little wife" and a "genuine ice beauty" who was good medicine. He revealed his intention to harmonize their yin and yang to become invincible. His subordinates then informed him that Lin Langtian had arrived.
Lei Li, annoyed by the timing, went to greet Lin Langtian, who ironically offered his best regards for the "wedding." He introduced Ling Qingzhu as a Senior Sister from the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace, claiming she was merely passing through Qingyang Town and wished to share in the auspicious blessing. Lei Li, however, grew suspicious, especially when Lin Langtian pointed out the lack of wedding decorations.
Lei Li accused Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu of being strange, demanding their true purpose. Ling Qingzhu declared they were there "to eliminate demons." Just then, the Fire-Python Tiger appeared, startling everyone. Lei Li, wondering who released the creature, was chased by the tiger and fled. Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu used the chaos to continue their search for the Yi-Demon.
Lei Li, after escaping the Fire-Python Tiger, ordered his men to find it while he went to the arena's upper level. Taking advantage of the chaos, Lin Dong, with Lin Qingtan, began climbing the wooden stakes along the arena's edge. Lei Li, waiting above, deliberately kicked Lin Dong down, prompting Qingtan to jump after him. The Fire-Python Tiger then swooped down, grabbing a ribbon in its mouth, and carried both Lin Dong and Qingtan up.
Upon reaching the top, Lin Dong spotted Ling Qingzhu and playfully asked if she was there to save him. Meanwhile, the Lei family's butler, now possessed by the Yi-Demon, immediately noticed Lin Dong and gave chase. Lin Langtian quickly realized the Yi-Demon had taken over the butler's body and pursued them. Lei Li, still preoccupied with Qingtan's escape, also chased the possessed butler, unaware of the Yi-Demon.
Seeing the group running, Ying Huanhuan mistook Lin Dong, who was leading, for the Yi-Demon and joined the chase, loudly claiming the Yi-Demon as hers. Lin Dong led everyone into the Tiemu Forest. In the forest, Ying Huanhuan confronted Ling Qingzhu, asserting she wouldn't lose to her again, and attacked her with her Twin Blade Spiritual Weapon. Lin Dong, while hiding, was discovered by the possessed butler. The Fire-Python Tiger reappeared, knocking the butler away.
Ying Huanhuan then seized Lin Dong, accusing him of being the Yi-Demon, but he countered that if he were, he wouldn't be caught so easily, telling her to stop flirting. The Fire-Python Tiger intervened again, pushing Ying Huanhuan away. Ling Qingzhu questioned Lin Langtian why his spell was weakening, concerned they couldn't defeat the Yi-Demon. After the Yi-Demon escaped, Lin Langtian confessed his mistake.
Ling Qingzhu accused him of being afraid to hurt Lin Dong, but Lin Langtian denied it, attributing the failure to his lack of skill. The Yi-Demon escaped, and the butler died. Lin Dong then sent the Fire-Python Tiger away, telling it to be free and not a slave, and that they would meet again someday. He then prepared to retrieve the Cinnabar Coagulation Fruit from the butler's body.
However, Ying Huanhuan, still convinced he was the Yi-Demon or at least involved, knocked him unconscious. When Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu arrived, Lin Langtian clarified to Ying Huanhuan that Lin Dong was not the Yi-Demon, but his brother. He rebuked her for interfering with the demon extermination. Ying Huanhuan, defiant, vowed to prove who would catch the Yi-Demon first.
Lin Langtian then told Ling Qingzhu he would explain the butler's death to the Lei Clan, while Ling Qingzhu questioned his casual dismissal of Lin Dong. They then took the butler's body and departed. Qingtan, shaken by the events, expressed her fear. Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu brought the butler's body to the Lei family. Lei Li was celebrating his brother Lei Zhong's advancement to the Heavenly Yuan Rank.
Lei Zhong, having cultivated in solitude, initially made them wait but then offered apologies. Ling Qingzhu explained to Lei Zhong that the butler's death was due to the Yi-Demon. Lei Li, however, was outraged, accusing them of framing him and killing his butler, claiming the Yi-Demon had been sealed for hundreds of years. Lin Dong interjected, calling Lei Li's words "bullshit" and accusing him of disrespecting Ling Qingzhu, who had saved his life.
Lin Langtian immediately silenced Lin Dong, who then taunted Lei Li before adding that Ling Qingzhu was helping their clan. Lei Zhong declared that the Lei and Lin families should live in peace in Qingyang Town and that the incident would be written off. Lin Langtian then formally requested the cancellation of Lin Qingtan's marriage, explaining it was merely a tactic to lure out the Yi-Demon. Lei Li vehemently opposed, reminding Lin Langtian that he had tacitly approved the arrangement.
However, Lei Zhong, as the head of the household, canceled the marriage, pretending he knew nothing of it. Lei Li then blurted out that he wanted to marry Qingtan not for love, but because her body possessed a unique power, revealing his sinister motive. Lin Dong retorted that Qingtan was pure and couldn't bear Lei Li's "stench," wishing him goodbye. After Lin Langtian, Ling Qingzhu, and Lin Dong left, Lei Li complained to Lei Zhong about the humiliation.
Lei Zhong explained that Lin Langtian was a rising talent from Yuan Gate, and Ling Qingzhu a candidate for the next Palace Master of the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace, both with extraordinary backgrounds, and it was unwise to offend them.
He further explained that depending on the Tiemu Forest, their family ranked top of the Four Great Clans of the Great Yan Dynasty, and a little carelessness could lead to great suffering, especially if the Lin Clan gained Yuan Gate's full backing. He dismissed Lei Li's personal offense, highlighting his true motive of using Qingtan for "medicine."
On the road, Lin Dong incessantly pestered Ling Qingzhu, thanking her for helping him and jokingly suggesting she was a lady who saved a hero. He denied taking her sachet, and even proposed that his father ask for her hand in marriage. Ling Qingzhu, disgusted by his antics and threatening to cut out his tongue if he didn't stop, eventually walked away.
Lin Dong then turned his attention to Lin Langtian, sarcastically calling him a "coward" for not directly helping Qingtan and for letting the Yi-Demon escape after using Qingtan as bait. Lin Langtian sent Qingtan home to reassure their father. When Lin Dong called him "fake," Lin Langtian challenged him to a fight. After easily defeating Lin Dong, Lin Langtian mocked his Tongbei Nine Punches, suggesting he might only reach the fifth punch next year.
Lin Dong, in pain, vowed to shut Lin Langtian up one day. Stung by Lin Langtian's mockery, Lin Dong returned home to practice the Tongbei Fist, determined to master more punches. His father, Lin Xiao, seeing his son's frustration and sloppy technique, chided him, calling it a "shame to be your father."
He then personally demonstrated the Tongbei punches, explaining how each strike gains strength, aiming for Lin Dong to reach the second rank of martial arts after mastering all nine. However, due to his old injuries, Lin Xiao soon collapsed. Lin Dong, concerned, told him to mind his health. Lin Xiao, seeing through Lin Dong's embarrassment from the earlier fight, questioned him about it.
Lin Dong, still bitter, reiterated his belief that Lin Langtian cheated during their past clan match, aiming to kill, and vowed revenge. Lin Xiao firmly repeated that the past match was solely to select someone for the Three Super Sects to revitalize the Lin Clan, and personal grudges were irrelevant. He emphasized that the goal was achieved regardless of who won.
Lin Xiao then reminded Lin Dong of the family rules, stating that Qingtan, being prettier, shouldn't do chores and should be looked after, especially after her recent fright. He warned Lin Dong to stay home and not cause trouble. As Lin Dong agreed, he watched Lin Xiao secretly take a flask of alcohol into his room. Later that night, Lin Dong, accompanied by Lin Qingtan, secretly went to the Tiemu Forest to dig up the butler's corpse.
Qingtan questioned why he was digging up graves after their father told him to stay home. Lin Dong excitedly explained that the butler had treasures. They successfully found the Cinnabar Coagulation Fruit, which Lin Dong had coveted since their encounter at Tiemu Mountain Villa. He apologized to the deceased butler for the intrusion, remarking that the fruit was useless to him now and the Lei Clan wouldn't use it for anything good anyway.
As they were leaving with the fruit, they noticed someone approaching with a torch and quickly hid. Unbeknownst to them, it was Ling Qingzhu, who seemed to be sensing the presence of an ancestral talisman, as a voiceover spoke of its appearance and immense power capable of seizing the Laws of Creation, turning Nirvana around, and granting mastery over life and death.
