Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 26 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Qing Jun met with Yu Huan and informed him that Su Mo had successfully pulled out the Splitting Sword, noting that the sword was forged from a dragon deity's fang. With it now in Su Mo's possession, Qing Jun believed capturing him would be significantly more challenging. Yu Huan, however, feigned composure and assured Qing Jun that he would handle Su Mo.
Yu Huan then confronted Qing Jun, stating he knew about Qing Jun's concealed interactions with Kongsang individuals, having seen their marks outside the palace. Qing Jun swiftly defended his loyalty to Cangliu, urging Yu Huan not to harbor suspicions. Yu Huan, unconvinced, pressed Qing Jun, questioning his allegiance to a "half-baked crown prince" like Zhen Lan, whom he believed was merely using Qing Jun to locate the Six Directions Seal.
Yu Huan then proposed to help Qing Jun secure his rightful position as the King of Jiuyi, a role Qing Jun felt he deserved after years of prosperous rule. Qing Jun, intrigued, asked for guidance. Meanwhile, Li Zhu led Zhen Lan's group towards their destination. To demonstrate her sincerity, she offered to go ahead, despite the dangers. She narrowly avoided a trap, saved by Qing Yuan, which left her with the impression that he was very caring.
They soon reached a pool of weak water, which Li Zhu warned would lead to certain death if anyone fell in. Zhen Lan discovered a barrier, indicating they were trapped. He pressed Li Zhu for answers, but she admitted she had been arranged to lead them there and was prepared to die, knowing no other way out. Zhen Lan resolved to face whatever lay ahead in the mysterious Life and Death Pavilion.
Upon entering, the environment shifted dramatically, engulfed in swirling fog and surrounded by abysses. Zhen Lan attempted to use his magic, but the power almost rebounded, nearly sending him plummeting into the chasm, before Xi Jing managed to pull him back. Na Sheng, despite warnings, inadvertently triggered a lever, sending a volley of arrows flying through the fog towards an unseen opponent.
On the other side, Su Mo and Bai Ying were suddenly ambushed by a barrage of arrows, forcing them to quickly defend themselves. Realizing her mistake, Na Sheng pulled the lever back, causing the arrows to reverse direction and attack Zhen Lan's group. Zhen Lan quickly erected a barrier to shield them. Li Zhu speculated that Su Mo and their group were on the other side, while Zhen Lan believed it was Bai Ying and her group.
Through a cautious exchange of words, they confirmed they were allies, much to everyone's relief. Su Mo concluded that the pavilion's traps were designed to make them attack each other. Both he and Zhen Lan attempted to dispel the thick fog, but their efforts proved fruitless, with Zhen Lan almost fainting.
Su Mo deduced that the fog was malevolent energy, an accumulation of purged evil spirits from the weak water, and could only be cleared by an even stronger "killing intent." He then drew the Splitting Sword, and its power successfully dissipated the dense mist. Just as the fog cleared, Na Sheng accidentally triggered another mechanism, causing Li Zhu to fall. Fortunately, Qing Yuan quickly saved her.
Su Mo immediately recognized Li Zhu as a merperson and urged her to reveal everything she knew. Li Zhu confessed that she was from Kongsang's Qing Clan and had been aware of their identities from the moment they ascended the mountain. She admitted that she had been ordered by Qing Jun to lead them to the Life and Death Pavilion as it was the only path to the Heavenly King's tomb.
She explained the pavilion's grim rule: "one life and one death," meaning one party must perish for the other to survive. She recounted her blood pact with Qing Jun, where he promised her freedom if she used them to open the tomb, and both were bound by a death curse if either reneged. Su Mo tried to persuade her to abandon her pact, but Li Zhu insisted that Quanxian always honor their promises.
As they spoke, the weak water in the pavilion began to rise rapidly, its temperature increasing, threatening to engulf them. Back in Jiuyi, Qing Jun reported to Yu Huan that Su Mo and Zhen Lan were trapped in the Life and Death Pavilion. Qing Jun also revealed that the Splitting Sword's removal had activated mountain-wide mechanisms, releasing five-colored smoke to mark their location. Yu Huan, confirming their position, immediately dispatched troops to converge on Jiuyi Mountain.
He ordered units to seal all exits of the Jiuyi Royal Palace and sent a third unit with him to capture the "traitors." Separately, Qing Yuan, using a fake command token, also mobilized troops in Banbu City, instructing them to reach Jiuyi Mountain before sunset. As the weak water rose, Su Mo calmly analyzed the pavilion's mechanisms, acknowledging that it mandated a sacrifice.
Xi Jing offered to be the one to stay behind, claiming he had no ties and was the most suitable. However, Zhen Lan vehemently refused, seeing Xi Jing as family and refusing to use him as a "blade." Bai Ying then stepped forward, expressing her willingness to sacrifice herself for Na Sheng and Zhen Lan, hoping to bring renewed hope to Kongsang. She confessed to Su Mo that her only regret was letting him down, to which he questioned how.
She replied that she shouldn't have "dragged him down." Bai Ying then revealed her deepest feelings to Su Mo, recalling a past conversation in the miasma forest where he preferred to be with her than to return to Jing Pagoda, fearing she might not have another chance to speak her heart. Su Mo asked her to promise to always be honest with him if they survived, and Bai Ying wholeheartedly agreed.
With their heartfelt promises exchanged, Su Mo and Bai Ying, without hesitation, activated the final mechanism, creating an escape route for Zhen Lan's group, and fell into the abyss together. After their miraculous escape, Na Sheng desperately urged Zhen Lan to save Su Mo and Bai Ying. She tried to use the Heavenly Ring, but it proved ineffective. Zhen Lan, with a heavy heart, explained that they could not save them immediately.
Their priority was to find the Six Directions Seal, and only then would they have the power to rescue their fallen comrades or fulfill their legacy if they were already gone. Qing Yuan then pointed toward what appeared to be the entrance to the Heavenly King's tomb. Na Sheng tried the Heavenly Ring again, and this time it responded, sensing something within the tomb. They found a large door, but it would not open. Xi Jing offered to try and force it open, but Zhen Lan stopped him, firmly declaring that he could not bear to lose anyone else.
