Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 13 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Bai Ying was heading out to thank Su Mo for his help. Su Mo, seeing her, playfully remarked that thanking someone from behind was impolite. He advised her to come inside due to the strong sun, and then asked about her health and Yan Xi's. Bai Ying assured him that Yan Xi was being looked after and that she was feeling much better.
She also stated that Kongsang would repay Quanxian for their assistance, and that she planned to return to Wuse City that night. Su Mo, recalling Bai Ying's previous words about not seeing each other again, questioned how she intended to repay him, noting their repeated encounters were beyond their control. As he spoke, Zhen Lan knocked on the door, asking to enter.
Bai Ying went to answer, and Su Mo, although interrupted, voiced his hope of seeing her again, acknowledging their respective important duties. Shortly after, Zhen Lan met with Bai Ying, checking on her recovery. He informed her of their plans to return to Wuse City that night and that Na Sheng would be staying behind with Xi Jing, to which Bai Ying agreed to inform Xi Jing. Meanwhile, Na Sheng searched for herbs to treat Yan Xi.
Ning Liang confronted her, mistaking her for a Kongsang and questioning her intentions, even challenging her medical knowledge. Na Sheng clarified that she was from the Central Plains and was traveling with the Kongsang because of the Heavenly Ring she wore, which she could not remove. She explained that Yan Xi had saved her life, and she was treating him because he was injured on her account. Ning Liang then took over Yan Xi's care.
Later, Na Sheng became jealous upon seeing Yan Xi undressed by Ning Liang. Ning Liang explained it was necessary for treating his wounds, as ""Yan Xi's"" cloak had been in the way. Na Sheng accused Ning Liang of having feelings for Yan Xi and threatened to report her to Su Mo, but Ning Liang simply dismissed her, telling her to leave Quanxian territory. Shi Luo conspired against Master Peng, intending to weaken him by removing his ally, Yu Huan.
He believed that without Yu Huan, Master Peng would be like an eagle with broken wings, unable to command the Cangliu military effectively, and Fei Lian would rise in influence. To expedite Yu Huan's downfall, Shi Luo manipulated a report from Gao Shunzhao, the governor of Taoyuan Province, fabricating charges that Yu Huan's troops had killed innocent people and caused immense suffering during their mission.
During a court hearing, Yu Huan was accused of failing his mission in Taoyuan Province, losing Wind Falcons, and failing to capture the Heavenly Ring holder. An official questioned Yu Huan's rapid rise, attributing the failure partly to Master Peng for selecting an inexperienced general. Master Peng confirmed that under military law, failure of mission warranted beheading. Yu Huan then testified that a merperson had destroyed a Wind Falcon bare-handed.
The court initially dismissed this as an unbelievable excuse, questioning how a seemingly weak merperson could possess such power, and noting that no such powerful merperson was registered. However, the proceedings were interrupted by a decree from Lord Zhi Zhe, announcing that the Emperor of the Sea had returned. Zhen Lan formally greeted Su Mo, acknowledging him as the Emperor of the Sea.
Su Mo remarked on the rarity of Kongsang royalty showing such respect to Quanxian after seven thousand years, to which Zhen Lan insisted it was deserved. Zhen Lan pledged Kongsang's full support to Su Mo's goal of leading his people back to the Biluo Sea. Zhen Lan then proposed a collaboration involving the Dragon Deity seal.
He recounted how seven thousand years ago, the Heavenly King had united six clans to seal Quanxian's guardian in the Entrapped Dragon Abyss, leaving Quanxian vulnerable. Zhen Lan explained that lifting this seal would empower Quanxian warriors and allow Su Mo to open the Sea Soul Plain, guiding his people back to the Biluo Sea.
Zhen Lan further revealed that one of his own seals, which held the power of Heaven, was located deep within the Ghost and Deity Abyss, a place only merpeople could access. He proposed exchanging the seal from the Ghost and Deity Abyss for the Dragon Deity seal, seeing it as a path for both Kongsang's 100,000 people, who had been dormant under Wuse City for a century, and Quanxian to return home.
Su Mo, however, remained wary, recalling a previous betrayal by a Kongsang person a century ago that led to heavy Quanxian casualties. Zhen Lan reassured him that he would not go back on his word once his power was restored, emphasizing that the fall of Cangliu rule and the awakening of Wuse City would mark the Quanxian's return to the Biluo Sea. He presented this as the best opportunity for both sides to achieve rebirth and awaited Su Mo's decision.
Later, Bai Ying consulted with Xi Jing on strategy. Xi Jing reflected on the past century, noting the numerous lives lost and expressing his hope that Bai Ying would not leave them again. Recognizing the increased difficulty in dealing with Cangliu after their recent setback, Xi Jing confirmed that Zhen Lan had already proposed an alliance with Quanxian, deeming it their most viable option.
Bai Ying agreed with the plan to work together to break both seals, asserting that they should follow Zhen Lan's decision since he had already made it. In prison, Yu Huan narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when Fei Lian arrived, scaring off the attackers. Fei Lian then shared some decade-old wine, recalling their camaraderie and lamenting that Yu Huan should not fall victim to power struggles but rather on the battlefield.
Yu Huan asked Fei Lian if he believed that someone had destroyed a Wind Falcon bare-handed, to which Fei Lian replied affirmatively, acknowledging Yu Huan's capabilities. Yu Huan then revealed that he had set up a trap during his retreat, believing he still had a chance to capture the holder of the Heavenly Ring. Unbeknownst to them, the failed assassination attempt greatly angered Shi Luo, who had orchestrated it to clear Fei Lian's path to power.
Hong Yuan and Prince Lan, arriving to meet Zhen Lan, found their path blocked by a barrier set up by Su Mo. Ning Liang, guarding it, refused them entry, citing Su Mo's orders. Bai Ying intervened, requesting Su Mo to open the barrier, assuring him that their escorts would maintain the secrecy of the Quanxian hideout. Su Mo complied.
Inside, Xi Jing greeted Hong Yuan, noting the unexpected reunion, while Hong Yuan mentioned Prince Zi's desire to share a drink with Xi Jing, who politely declined, stating he no longer drank. Upon meeting Zhen Lan, Prince Lan questioned the urgent meeting at a Quanxian hideout. Zhen Lan explained they were taking refuge there after being pursued by Cangliu in Taoyuan Province, adding that Su Mo had helped them.
Zhen Lan then revealed that Su Mo was the Emperor of the Sea, which surprised Prince Lan and the others, prompting them to recall past events. Zhen Lan then invited everyone to sit down. Prince Lan then presented Zhen Lan with the Dark Golden Classics.
Observing it to be blank, Prince Lan expressed doubt, but Zhen Lan explained that only the King of Kongsang could read it and, despite his weakened state, used his power to reveal its contents: "The seal on the dragon deity." Zhen Lan then reiterated his proposal to collaborate with Quanxian, arguing that their shared persecution by Cangliu made it their only viable path.
Prince Lan vehemently opposed this, citing millennia of grievances between Kongsang and Quanxian and questioning the possibility of trust. Zhen Lan countered that the sealing of the dragon deity by the Heavenly King and Queen Bai Wei was the root of their long-standing animosity, and it was time to put an end to it, as both peoples yearned to return home.
He revealed his plan to break the Dragon Deity seal for them in exchange for Quanxian retrieving one of his own seals from the Ghost and Deity Abyss, a place only merpeople could access. Xi Jing, who had previously discussed this with Bai Ying, acknowledged the difficulty of breaking the seal and asked Zhen Lan for his deeper reasoning. Zhen Lan explained his need for their help with his own scattered seals.
Bai Ying, in turn, supported Zhen Lan's vision, entrusting the decision to him and expressing her agreement. Na Sheng attempted to administer medicine to Yan Xi by mouth, but Ning Liang discovered her. Ning Liang then removed a blanket Na Sheng had placed on Yan Xi, explaining that merpeople were sensitive to heat and covering him would worsen his condition.
Na Sheng inquired if Ning Liang, not having undergone transformation, had no specific gender, as merpeople only develop gender when they fall in love. Ning Liang confirmed this, leading Na Sheng to playfully ask if she harbored feelings for Yan Xi, which Ning Liang denied. Yan Xi then awoke and asked Na Sheng to leave the room so he could speak with Ning Liang alone.
Eavesdropping from outside, Na Sheng heard Yan Xi defend her, saying she was kind and had saved his life, and asked Ning Liang not to trouble her. Ning Liang then questioned Yan Xi directly about his feelings for Na Sheng, before reminding him of their solemn oath as Quanxian warriors: to forsake personal feelings and fear of death, dedicating their lives entirely to Quanxian's cause.
Ning Liang then made Yan Xi reaffirm this oath as Quanxian's Commissioner of the Left, vowing to the dragon deity and Taoyuan Village to have no personal feelings until their return to Biluo Sea. Overhearing this, Na Sheng was deeply worried about the implications for her relationship with Yan Xi. A Quanxian then told Na Sheng that everyone would soon depart and she should say her goodbyes to Yan Xi.
