Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 35 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Queen Bai Wei observed that Ya Ren had undergone her transformation and was happy for her. After hearing Ya Ren's account of the heartless prince who caused her transformation, Queen Bai Wei inquired about Chun Huang. Ya Ren informed her that Chun Huang had changed greatly since they last parted, now solely concerned with Quanxian's prosperity while thinking of his beloved, and neglecting state affairs.
Queen Bai Wei was pleased to hear that Chun Huang had also transformed but wondered about the woman who had captured his heart, a woman he had eventually lost. Despite this, Queen Bai Wei still expressed a desire to visit Dragon Silk Palace in Biluo Sea, a visit Ya Ren eagerly welcomed.
As a servant delivered a bottle of wine sent by Lang Gan, Ya Ren discreetly noticed something amiss with the drink and advised Queen Bai Wei against consuming it, promising to share a drink with her another day. Meanwhile, Lang Gan, the Star King, remained suspicious of Princess Ya Ren, sent by the Emperor of the Sea, and ordered his subordinates to monitor her movements. He also maintained vigilance over the six princes of Kongsang.
One of them, Prince Qing, openly opposed the alliance with Quanxian, suggesting instead an attack to seize their treasures. Shortly after, a servant rushed in to report that Queen Bai Wei had been poisoned, prompting Lang Gan to immediately summon Ya Ren for questioning. Ya Ren confessed that the wine Lang Gan had sent to Bai Wei was, in fact, the poisoned wine she had originally intended for him, seeking revenge.
She accused Lang Gan of succumbing to greed after receiving the magical artifact from Chun Huang, harboring jealousy over Bai Wei's affection for Chun Huang, and coveting Quanxian's wealth. Ya Ren's accusations infuriated Lang Gan, who vowed to trample Quanxian as retribution. A maid informed Queen Bai Wei that Lang Gan had led his troops to Biluo Sea, using Ya Ren's poisoning of her as an excuse to demand an explanation.
Disbelieving, Queen Bai Wei insisted on confronting Lang Gan herself, despite her weakened state. Simultaneously, Chun Huang received news of Lang Gan's invasion of Biluo Sea. Though aware that Lang Gan, now wielding the ancient powers, would be a formidable opponent, Chun Huang resolved to fight and protect his people. Chun Huang met Lang Gan at the edge of Biluo Sea, questioning his continued warmongering despite his earlier promise to maintain peace in Yunhuang.
Lang Gan accused Chun Huang of loving a woman he shouldn't, attempting to steal her from his side, and orchestrating Ya Ren’s poisoning plot. He claimed he never received the letter Bai Wei had asked Chun Huang to send. Chun Huang clarified that he did send the letters, albeit with some hesitation, and was unaware of Ya Ren's poisoning plot.
He admitted his love for Bai Wei but asserted he never intended to seize her, knowing her heart belonged solely to Lang Gan. Chun Huang expressed regret that the magical artifact he gifted Lang Gan, meant to suppress his inner demons, had instead exacerbated his ambition. Undeterred, Lang Gan moved to strike Chun Huang, but Queen Bai Wei bravely stepped in front, shielding Chun Huang.
Queen Bai Wei confronted Lang Gan, accusing him of orchestrating the invasion of Quanxian under the false pretense of Ya Ren's poisoning. She reminded him that Kongsang's current prosperity was due to Chun Huang's assistance, and that the Splitting Sword, given by Chun Huang to quell the Yunhuang rebellion, was meant for peace, not conquest.
She lamented his transformation from the kind astrologer she knew into an unrecognizable Heavenly King obsessed with power and urged him to cease his destructive path, warning that conquering Quanxian would ultimately lead to Kongsang's downfall. Declaring that he was no longer the man she knew, Queen Bai Wei attempted to return the Earth Ring to him. Lang Gan was enraged, insisting the Earth Ring belonged to Kongsang's Queen and could not be simply cast aside.
A sinister voice echoed in his mind, urging him to kill Chun Huang to achieve peace and claim Bai Wei for himself. As Lang Gan again raised the Splitting Sword towards Chun Huang, Bai Wei once more placed herself in harm's way. Su Mo, Bai Ying, and Zhen Lan, trapped in an illusion of these past events, realized their dire situation. Su Mo managed to break free and pull Bai Ying out, causing Zhen Lan to awaken as well.
Zhen Lan explained he was drawn to the Stranded Dragon Abyss after deciphering a parchment scroll, which alluded to a complex history involving the removal of a ring. He confessed to seeing glimpses of Bai Wei's death and realized he was the one who stabbed her as Lang Gan in the illusion, a truth confirming the past King of Kongsang's actions. Su Mo inferred that the illusion was a true recollection orchestrated by Queen Bai Wei.
Zhen Lan then revealed he could see the Stranded Dragon Rope, which was invisible to Su Mo and Bai Ying. Using his magic, Zhen Lan made the rope visible. Su Mo then took the Splitting Sword and severed one of the Stranded Dragon Rope's chains, causing the Dragon Deity to open one eye. Yu Huan arrived, intending to stop them, but Zhen Lan intercepted him, allowing Su Mo to continue his task.
As Zhen Lan engaged Yu Huan, Su Mo completely severed the Stranded Dragon Rope, causing the Stranded Dragon Abyss to rumble and collapse. Yu Huan was knocked unconscious, and Zhen Lan narrowly escaped falling into the abyss. However, despite the rope being broken, the Dragon Deity did not emerge, much to their dismay.
Suddenly, Queen Bai Wei's phantom appeared, lamenting their late arrival and confirming that the illusions they witnessed were indeed true recollections of past events, shaped by fate and Lang Gan's unchecked ambition.
Bai Wei explained that the Dragon Deity remained sealed because it was bound by two chains: the Stranded Dragon Rope set by Lang Gan, and a second seal she herself had cast using half the power of the Earth Ring to protect the Dragon Deity from Lang Gan's destructive intentions. The remaining half of the Earth Ring's power was passed to Bai Ying.
She recalled how, in the illusion, Lang Gan had felt remorse after stabbing her, but an internal voice twisted his grief, prompting him to kill Chun Huang to claim all of Yunhuang. In her dying moments, Bai Wei had used the Earth Ring to protect the Dragon Deity for Chun Huang, imploring him to end the wars.
Bai Wei led Su Mo and the others to another location and instructed Bai Ying to place her hand on a specific spot, concentrating her power into the Earth Ring. As Bai Ying did so, the entire Stranded Dragon Abyss began to violently shake, indicating the Dragon Deity's awakening. Meanwhile, the fake Su Mo was also ascending, driven by a desire to reclaim what he believed he had lost.
Bai Wei explained that the Dragon Deity was angered, remembering how Chun Huang had extracted its tooth for Bai Wei's sake. She then instructed Bai Ying to release the Dragon Deity, but warned that to receive her power, Bai Ying would have to make a great sacrifice. Bai Ying, resolving to prevent past mistakes and for the sake of Quanxian and Su Mo, agreed.
Bai Wei then transferred all her power to Bai Ying, instructing her descendant to release the Dragon Deity and ensure it acknowledged the true Emperor of the Sea as its master, before finally dissipating. Su Mo, concerned, questioned Bai Ying's actions, but she affirmed that this was the only way to undo the seal.
Bai Ying, now a descendant of Queen Bai of Kongsang, declared her intention to complete the task of releasing the Dragon Deity, which had been sealed by the Heavenly King thousands of years prior.
