Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 14 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Ru Yi expressed concern over Crown Prince Zhen Lan's proposal for Kongsang and Quanxian to cooperate, finding it difficult to erase thousands of years of grievances so easily. Su Mo acknowledged that while their common enemy was Cangliu and the offer to unlock the Dragon Deity's seal was welcome, he desired a collaboration that went beyond a simple exchange of seals. He noted that the resentment of some Quanxian members, like Ning Liang, towards Kongsang was stronger than he anticipated.
Na Sheng urgently approached Su Mo, asking how she could help the Quanxian Tribe return to the Biluo Sea. Su Mo initially dismissed her, claiming Quanxian matters didn't need outsiders' help. Na Sheng insisted, highlighting her unique power as the wielder of the Heavenly Ring, which she used to defeat Wind Falcons.
Su Mo, however, accused her of acting only for Yan Xi's sake and then instructed her to bid farewell to Yan Xi as he was preparing to leave without her. Devastated, Na Sheng sought out Bai Ying and Zhen Lan, expressing her dilemma: if she followed Yan Xi, she couldn't aid Zhen Lan with the Heavenly Ring, but if she stayed with Zhen Lan, she'd lose Yan Xi. Zhen Lan suggested a solution, though its success was uncertain.
Na Sheng passionately argued that Kongsang and Merpeople shouldn't be separated, urging them to unite against Cangliu. She expressed her belief in Su Mo's good nature, despite his cold exterior, and asked Bai Ying to help her speak with him. Zhen Lan intervened, reminding them that the Heavenly Ring had its own reasons for choosing Na Sheng. Na Sheng rushed to Su Mo, pleading with him not to leave, as she feared being permanently separated from Yan Xi.
Bai Ying intervened, requesting to speak with Su Mo alone. Inside, Bai Ying pressed Su Mo on his stance regarding the Kongsang-Quanxian collaboration, expressing her concern for the difficulties he would face in returning Quanxian to the Biluo Sea and breaking the Dragon Deity's seal without Kongsang's help. She also voiced worries about his recent cultivation and what he had endured. Su Mo sensed her concern, wanting to know her true feelings and if they could return to their past.
Bai Ying confessed her affection for him and her hope for Quanxian's return, but guiltily refused his overtures, stating that their past could not be rekindled and a future together was impossible due to her responsibility towards the 100,000 sleeping people of Kongsang. She explained that a century ago, her impulsiveness had devastated Kongsang, and she couldn't risk history repeating itself.
Despite her personal feelings, she acknowledged that an alliance offered the best chance against Cangliu, even with the historical animosity and potential for misunderstanding. Su Mo understood her decision and vowed to do as she wished. Meanwhile, General Fei Lian, after being alerted that the Heavenly Ring wielder had fled with the Quanxian people via a water route, ordered his forces to search for underground rivers outside Taoyuan Province.
His subordinate, Xiang, soon confirmed their location in a Taoyuan village, prompting Fei Lian to command a full-scale assault with Wind Falcons and crossbows. Bai Ying reported back to Zhen Lan that Su Mo hadn't outright rejected the proposal for collaboration, but he hadn't fully agreed either. Su Mo expressed concerns that lingering animosity between Kongsang and Quanxian could lead to the collaboration not lasting long, thus failing to truly challenge Cangliu.
Zhen Lan acknowledged Su Mo's apprehensions as reasonable and resolved to show Su Mo that Kongsang had moved past their old resentments. Su Mo gathered his subordinates to discuss the strategic path forward. Ning Liang vehemently opposed any collaboration with Kongsang, insisting that the Quanxian people, who had waited a hundred years, wanted Su Mo, their Emperor of the Sea, to lead them directly into battle, break the Dragon Deity Seal, and defeat Cangliu independently.
Su Mo countered by highlighting Quanxian's limited military strength against Cangliu's Wind Falcons, emphasizing that retrieving the Splitting Sword from Jiuyu Mountain, a task only Kongsang people could undertake, was crucial for breaking the Dragon Deity Seal. He acknowledged the past betrayal by Prince Qing but argued that exchanging seals was merely a deal; a true alliance was necessary for both tribes to gain enough power to defeat Cangliu and restore peace to Yunhuang.
Just as he was deliberating on how to overcome the mutual resentments, Cangliu's forces, led by Fei Lian's Wind Falcons, launched a fierce attack on their village. Su Mo’s magical barrier began to crack under the assault. He ordered the Quanxian soldiers to evacuate via the water routes, while Bai Ying urged him to protect Na Sheng and Zhen Lan.
As the Quanxian forces attempted to escape, they discovered that Yu Huan had already placed barriers specifically designed to trap merpeople across all water routes in Taoyuan Province. Zhen Lan quickly discovered a method to break the merperson-specific barriers but lacked the power to execute it. He requested Su Mo to share some of his magic.
Despite Ning Liang's immediate opposition and suspicion, Su Mo trusted Zhen Lan, stating that Cangliu was their common enemy and he wouldn't risk his tribe's lives, nor would Zhen Lan betray his Kongsang people. Su Mo transferred his power, and Zhen Lan, with Na Sheng's assistance in channeling, successfully shattered the barrier. As everyone fled through the now-open water route, Su Mo cast a Water Avoidance spell on Na Sheng so she wouldn't drown.
He then instructed Zhen Lan to take the others and retreat while he returned to aid Bai Ying. Su Mo swiftly appeared where Fei Lian was attacking Bai Ying and her group, causing Fei Lian to order an immediate withdrawal. Su Mo then rescued Bai Ying and her companions. After rescuing Bai Ying, Su Mo formally met with Zhen Lan. Su Mo clarified that he declined a mere seal exchange but proposed a full alliance between Kongsang and Quanxian.
Zhen Lan affirmed Kongsang's commitment to help release the Dragon Deity, and in turn, Quanxian would assist in retrieving the Six Directions Seal from the Ghost and Deity Abyss. They pledged to unite the powers of the Dragon Deity, Heavenly Ring, and Earth Ring to defeat Cangliu, bringing sunlight back to Kongsang and allowing Quanxian to return to the Biluo Sea.
Following this, Zhen Lan entrusted Bai Ying with information on how to access their camp via Jing Lake and then departed to ensure the safety of Xi Jing and Na Sheng. Simultaneously, Lord Zhi Zhe, observing the heavens, divined the alignment of the Greedy Wolf Star and Bright Star, signifying the imminent formation of the Kongsang-Quanxian alliance and a shift in Yunhuang's balance. He decided to withhold this critical information from the five masters.
Zhen Lan established a secluded cabin near Jing Lake as a hideout for Na Sheng and Xi Jing, considering it a safe, hidden location. Na Sheng, still anxious, wanted to perform a divination to ensure their safety, but Zhen Lan told her it was their only remaining refuge, which frightened her. To ease her fears and encourage her to learn, he gave her the "Book of Harmony," a divine book containing ancient Yunhuang spells.
He explained that while it wouldn't grant her instant invisibility or travel thousands of miles, studying it could help her develop new abilities. Su Mo finally reunited with the Quanxian elders and people at their great camp, where he was welcomed as the long-awaited Sea Emperor. The elders expressed their gratitude for his return and urged him to avenge their fallen kin, whose names were inscribed on the Records of Heroic Souls.
Su Mo, however, focused on the future, explaining his decision to form an alliance with Kongsang. He reminded them of their limited manpower against Cangliu and emphasized that defeating Cangliu was the only path to a peaceful life for both Quanxian and Kongsang, even though Kongsang had broken promises a century ago. He reasoned that an alliance would allow them to mutually retrieve the Dragon Deity's Seal and the Six Directions Seal, thereby gaining enough power to oppose Cangliu effectively.
Though Elder Yu raised concerns about past betrayals, the elders ultimately conceded to Su Mo's strategic decision. They presented him with an ice crystal, a relic left by Master Ming Huo, which could summon the master to interpret fate. Summoned by the crystal, Master Ming Huo appeared to Su Mo, revealing that she had divined his arrival 7,000 years prior, foretelling that the next Emperor of the Sea would appear after the end of all pains. Her words resonated with Su Mo, confirming his belief that Na Sheng's earlier divination was not mere child's play, and his destiny had been predetermined millennia ago.
