Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 29 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Zhen Lan confided in Xi Jing, expressing deep shame for his current predicament. He noted how others like Li Zhu and Qing Yuan had sacrificed their lives for their ideals, and even Na Sheng had journeyed far for Yan Xi. Yet, he felt he was only being cared for, and even wished for others to contribute more.
He admitted that while he was slowly regaining strength, he was also gradually losing Bai Ying, who would disappear forever if the dream of seeing the sun again became a reality. He desperately wondered if there was any way to prevent Bai Ying from scattering and vanishing, but Xi Jing confirmed the Xuan Huang Scripture offered no solution.
Zhen Lan suspected Bai Ying kept this from him because she knew he wouldn't try to remove the seals if he knew the cost. Xi Jing observed that despite her gentle appearance, Bai Ying possessed a stubborn resolve that nothing could sway once she made a decision. Zhen Lan thanked Xi Jing, pondering if he would have avoided all this suffering had he not been brought back from the prairie.
He concluded that he was born to belong to Kongsang, destined to be the Crown Prince, burdened by golden shackles and the expectations of his people. He recalled how he couldn't show weakness even when Bai Ying and Su Mo fell from the Life and Death Pavilion. He confessed to being an ordinary person underneath, capable of fear and uncertainty, unable to bear losing Bai Ying, Qing Yuan, Lan Xia, Hong Yuan, or anyone else.
He wished he could bear all the burdens alone. Xi Jing acknowledged Zhen Lan's long-held emotions. Meanwhile, Zhi Zhe received a letter from Bai Lin, who pledged to track down and kill Su Mo, asking Zhi Zhe to fulfill her wish to live as a human again. Su Mo finally found Bai Ying, believing her to be the real Bai Ying.
He confessed that he hadn't realized his actions were pushing her towards turning to ash, and he felt he couldn't share her burden. He declared that he was willing to do anything with her except lose her, urging her not to seek the seals so she wouldn't turn to ash, and promising they would be together forever. However, he had mistaken Bai Lin for Bai Ying.
Upon hearing Su Mo's words, Bai Lin was shocked to learn her sister would turn to ash. Enraged, she felt Bai Ying was undeserving of such a fate and swore a curse upon Su Mo, wishing him to never achieve his true desires. Bai Lin then lunged at Su Mo, grabbing him by the neck to kill him, but Su Mo pushed her away with a palm strike. Just then, Bai Ying arrived, stopping them from further conflict.
Bai Lin pleaded with Bai Ying not to continue her quest, suggesting they remain together as bird spirits. However, Bai Ying felt a responsibility to the people of Wuse City and refused, explaining she could not change her fate of turning to ash when Wuse City reopened, but promised to help Bai Lin become human again. Bai Lin was distraught by Bai Ying's refusal and, in a fit of anger, transformed into a bird and flew away.
Bai Ying acknowledged Su Mo's goodness but explained she couldn't accompany him through life. She expressed regret for her selfishness in not revealing the truth about turning to ash, admitting she had been deceiving herself. Now, she had to face reality and asked Su Mo to forget everything between them and return to a time when they were strangers, believing separation would be easier for him to bear since she no longer had a future.
Su Mo, though heartbroken, respected her wishes. He embraced her, assuring her that everything would turn out as she desired, then turned and left. Back with Zhen Lan, Xi Jing praised him, recalling a battle where Zhen Lan's unwavering resolve was like a flag, uniting them and leading them home.
Xi Jing recognized that Zhen Lan, Bai Ying, and Su Mo were fighting not for personal freedom or desire, but for something greater: opening Wuse City, waking the 100,000 people, and the Quanxian's return to the Biluo Sea. He assured Zhen Lan that he understood him and would continue to stand by his side, along with Na Sheng and Qing Yuan, to move forward.
Zhen Lan appreciated being called by his name, Zhen Lan, instead of "Your Highness," a title he had borne since becoming Crown Prince. Suddenly, Yan Xi and Na Sheng rushed back, reporting that the Cangliu army was pursuing them. Zhen Lan decided to divert the large army with Xi Jing, instructing Yan Xi and Na Sheng to hide on the mountain before meeting them at Tianxiang Tavern. On their way, Yan Xi knocked out Fei Lian, a Cangliu general.
Yan Xi and Na Sheng decided to take Fei Lian as a hostage, believing he could be useful in their plans, and brought him to Tianxiang Tavern. At the tavern, Yan Xi noticed Fei Lian's injury, likely sustained during his capture, and applied Quanxian herbs to treat it. He then secretly asked Fei Lian not to harm Na Sheng if the Cangliu soldiers pursued them later, to which Fei Lian agreed. Meanwhile, Yu Huan continued his pursuit of Su Mo.
Xiao caught up to Yu Huan, informing him that Master Lang had already slandered him in court to Master Xian, and Master Peng seemed unwilling to defend him. Xiao warned Yu Huan that a killer had been dispatched by Nan Zhao and that the five masters were waiting for him and General Fei Lian to return and be held accountable.
Yu Huan, realizing this was orchestrated by the Lord on top of Jing Pagoda, then gave Xiao a task: to escort the supposedly captured Su Mo back to Jing City the next day, ordering her to be the sole patrol and prevent anyone from approaching. Bai Ying, having overheard this, secretly followed Xiao to the jail, only to find it was a trap set for her.
She realized Yu Huan had not captured Su Mo at all, but had designed the whole ruse to capture her. Xiao, too, had been deceived by Yu Huan and unknowingly used to lure Bai Ying into the trap. Separately, Su Mo, who had left Bai Ying earlier, believing she didn't care for him, later discovered her true feelings. Looking at wishing plaques, he saw that all of Bai Ying's past wishes were for him.
Overwhelmed by this realization and heartache, Su Mo suddenly plummeted into Mirror Lake. Quanxian people found him unconscious and promptly brought him back to their camp, where their physician noted he had no obvious injuries but was affected by a "blue-black vapor," suggesting a form of sorcery or soul capture.
Upon hearing rumors at Tianxiang Tavern that a "woman in white" and the "Emperor of the Sea" had been captured by a Jing City general, Zhen Lan and Xi Jing grew worried about Bai Ying and Su Mo. Yan Xi confirmed that Su Mo had returned to the Quanxian camp, but Bai Ying had indeed fallen into a trap. Fei Lian, still held by them, remained tight-lipped when Xi Jing questioned him for information.
Zhen Lan decided to return and consult the High Priest on how to rescue Bai Ying, leaving Yan Xi and Na Sheng to continue with Fei Lian as their hostage. On the way, Fei Lian feigned needing to use the restroom and escaped. He then encountered Nan Zhao's troops, who were searching for Zhen Lan and his group. Honoring his agreement with Yan Xi, Fei Lian directed Nan Zhao's soldiers in the opposite direction, protecting Na Sheng.
However, Nan Zhao became suspicious after noticing a wound on Fei Lian's neck that had been treated with Quanxian medicine, leading him to believe Fei Lian was a spy colluding with the rebels, and ordered his capture. Meanwhile, Yu Huan returned with Bai Ying. Zhi Zhe commended him, promoting him to first-rank general for capturing Kongsang's Princess Bai alive.
Master Peng, who had trained Yu Huan, felt a subtle sense of injustice at Yu Huan's swift rise and the recognition he received directly from Zhi Zhe. The Quanxian physician confirmed that Su Mo's soul had been captured and only Lord Ming Huo could save him.
