Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 5 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Upon Lin Xiao’s return home, Lin Dong prepared to share his recent experiences, but Lin Xiao, seeing Lei Zhong’s approach, swiftly led Lin Qingtan away, instructing her to remain silent. Lin Dong watched as Lei Zhong destroyed their house with a single, powerful palm strike. Lei Zhong immediately demanded to know Lei Li’s whereabouts, accusing Lin Dong of his disappearance and the injury of his servants.
Lin Dong tried to defend himself, stating he didn't hide or eat Lei Li, questioning if he truly had such capabilities. The clan head, Lin Mu, arrived, informing Lei Zhong that Lin Xiao, Lin Dong, and Lin Qingtan had already been expelled from the Lin Clan, hoping to diffuse the situation.
As Lei Zhong prepared to seize them, Lin Langtian intervened, announcing that he and Senior Ling Qingzhu had found Lei Zhong’s injured servants in the Tiemu Forest and brought them to the Lin ancestral hall. At the ancestral hall, Lei Zhong continued to insist Lin Dong was responsible for his servants’ injuries and Lei Li’s disappearance. Lin Langtian explained that the wounds required a cultivator of at least the Earthly Yuan Rank, beyond Lin Dong’s current abilities.
Unconvinced, Lei Zhong challenged Lin Dong to prove his strength. During a brutal beating, Lin Dong recited a phrase from the Divinity Movement Scroll he had found: "Divinity is divided into yin and yang. When divinity moves, destiny starts." A powerful surge of energy emanated from him, sending Lei Zhong flying and stunning everyone present. Undeterred, Lei Zhong threatened Lin Dong’s father and sister.
Lin Dong, to protect his family, offered to enter Beast Valley behind the Lei Manor to retrieve a Black Panther Crystal, a spiritual medicine more potent than the Cinnabar Coagulation Fruit, capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to heal the servants. Lin Xiao pleaded with Lin Dong not to go, warning that no one had ever returned alive from Beast Valley.
Lin Dong, however, felt he had no choice and was willing to trade his life for his family’s safety. Lei Zhong agreed to the wager but added a cruel stipulation: if Lin Dong failed to return with the crystal, the Lin Clan would cease to exist in Qingyang Town.
Lin Mu frantically appealed to Lei Zhong, reiterating that Lin Dong’s family had no connection to the Lin Clan, but Lei Zhong was resolute, stating that Lin Xiao and Lin Dong were still recorded in the Lin Clan’s family register and their fate now rested on Lin Dong. Lin Mu then desperately sought Lin Langtian’s help, but Lin Langtian turned and walked away.
At the entrance to Beast Valley, Lin Langtian handed Lin Dong a black iron dagger, advising him, "You must win to live, and you must live to win," indicating this was all he could do. As Lin Dong ventured into the valley, both he and Lin Langtian were plagued by memories of their past, recalling their youthful vows of lifelong brotherhood. Elsewhere, Lin Langtian confided in Ling Qingzhu that finding Lei Li would be crucial to helping Lin Dong.
Ling Qingzhu speculated that Lei Li might be hidden within Beast Valley, and both noted the mysterious power surrounding Lin Dong. Meanwhile, Master Yan emerged from the hidden cave beneath Lin Dong's house, telling Lin Xiao that Lin Dong had his own destiny before departing. Back at his manor, Lei Zhong ordered his men to release additional beasts into Beast Valley and to surround the Lin family. Master Yan later brought a recovered Ying Huanhuan to an inn.
Initially furious and seeking revenge on Lin Dong, Huanhuan’s anger subsided when Master Yan explained Lin Dong’s plight and clarified that Lei Li was responsible for the injured servants. Realizing Lin Dong was being unfairly targeted, she resolved to go to Beast Valley to save him first, reserving her personal grudge for later. Lin Langtian, joined by Lin Qingtan and Ling Qingzhu, also prepared to enter Beast Valley.
He planned to use Qingtan’s inherent ice toxin, which Yi-Demons feared, to their advantage. Ling Qingzhu expressed concern over Qingtan’s safety, but Qingtan insisted she would do anything to save her brother. Inside the valley, Lin Dong cut the ropes binding his hands. He soon spotted Ying Huanhuan, who was unaware of Lei Li (possessed by an Yi-Demon) lurking behind her. Lin Dong quickly pulled Huanhuan out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding Lei Li's attack.
Huanhuan then confronted Lei Li, driving him off, but injured her foot in the process. Lin Dong picked her up to carry her, but she protested loudly. He then set her down and walked away, leaving her fuming about his ingratitude. Lin Dong soon returned, however, and playfully asked if she still wanted to be carried. After some spirited back-and-forth, he eventually lifted her onto his back and continued onward.
Meanwhile, Lin Langtian, Ling Qingzhu, and Lin Qingtan encountered Lei Li. They fought to expel the Yi-Demon from Lei Li’s body. During the skirmish, Qingtan and Ling Qingzhu were injured. Lin Langtian instructed them to remain and guard Lei Li while he pursued the fleeing Yi-Demon. After a considerable journey, Lin Dong finally set Huanhuan down. A small bottle fell from her belongings.
Huanhuan explained it was ruby powder, a potent healing medicine made by her father, also effective as a sedative in larger doses. Lin Dong, claiming to have "thick skin and muscles" and no need for such fine medicine, took the powder, removed Huanhuan’s shoe, and gently applied it to her injured foot. After treating her wound, he went off to catch a rabbit for them to eat.
As they ate the roasted rabbit, something suddenly flew out of Lin Dong’s stone talisman and struck him. He looked around for the assailant, and Huanhuan managed to catch a small mouse. To their astonishment, the "mouse" began to speak, declaring itself a Sky Marten Monster. It then transformed into human form and snatched the stone talisman. Lin Dong gave chase, demanding the talisman back.
The Sky Marten Monster asserted that it was the true owner of the talisman, having been sealed within it due to insufficient yuan energy. Taking advantage of the distraction, Huanhuan trapped the Sky Marten Monster with ice spikes, allowing Lin Dong to retrieve the talisman. The Sky Marten Monster angrily warned them that despite being a mere Spirit Monster, it would not tolerate being provoked. Lin Dong, bewildered, immediately turned to Huanhuan and asked what a Spirit Monster was.
