Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 42 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Yu Huan confronted Zhi Zhe, questioning his true intentions regarding the broken barrier of Wuse City, which could have led to Yu Huan's demise. Zhi Zhe nonchalantly admitted it was a test, claiming Yu Huan wouldn't be fit to be the Commanding General of the Five Masters otherwise. Despite the near-fatal challenge, Yu Huan, driven by ambition, agreed to continue serving Zhi Zhe, but demanded the position he felt he deserved.
Zhi Zhe then tasked Yu Huan with capturing Na Sheng to retrieve the Heavenly Ring. Meanwhile, Yan Xi, affected by Nan Zhao's mind control, was brought back by Nan Zhao's group. Na Sheng was also captured, and when Nan Zhao's group failed to remove the Heavenly Ring, both were taken to Master Peng. Master Peng's men attempted to remove the Heavenly Ring from Na Sheng but failed.
Na Sheng tried to revive Yan Xi, who was unconscious, and realized she was captured because of the ring. She offered to reveal how to use it if they released her and Yan Xi, but Master Peng refused to bargain. Master Peng struck Na Sheng, but Yan Xi, briefly stirring, blocked the blow, attempting to shield her. They were both subdued.
Master Peng threatened to harm Yan Xi if Na Sheng didn't cooperate, emphasizing that she was less important than the Sea Emperor or the Crown Prince. They were subsequently thrown into the imperial prison. In their cell, Na Sheng desperately tried to get water for a badly injured Yan Xi. She grappled with the thought that Yan Xi's suffering was due to her, but then reflected on her journey.
She realized that despite the hardships, meeting Yan Xi and her other friends, and experiencing love, made her life more fulfilling than her time on the Central Plains. She concluded that possessing the power of Heaven wasn't so bad after all. Suddenly, Yu Huan entered the prison, having killed the guards. He demanded Na Sheng accompany him, threatening Yan Xi's life. Na Sheng pleaded for Yan Xi's release or at least some water.
Yu Huan refused to release Yan Xi but splashed water on his face before forcibly dragging Na Sheng away. As she was taken, Na Sheng promised Yan Xi she would return and they would go back to Biluo Sea together. Master Peng and Nan Zhao, learning of Yu Huan's actions, then set off to pursue him. Unaware of their friends' plight, Bai Ying and Su Mo strolled through the Flower Festival, revisiting cherished memories.
They were lucky to find the very last wishing plaque. Su Mo, however, left his blank. He explained that many people couldn't attend the festival, and a blank plaque could allow more wishes to be fulfilled. He expressed his belief in making his own destiny rather than relying on wishes. Influenced by Su Mo, Bai Ying also decided to embrace her own strength.
As they shared a tender kiss, Bai Ying's lost memories of their entire shared past flooded back to her. She declared her love for Su Mo, remembering every moment they had experienced together. Back in Cangliu, Master Peng, growing suspicious of Zhi Zhe's actions, ordered Master Lang to assassinate him that very night. He then confronted Yu Zhu, who was tied up.
Yu Zhu tearfully confessed that both she and Yu Huan had always viewed Master Peng as a father figure, grateful for his kindness in taking them in. Master Peng mused about how wonderful it would be if they truly were his children, before brutally strangling Yu Zhu to death. News of Na Sheng and Yan Xi's disappearance reached Zhen Lan and the High Priest, causing them great concern.
Su Mo, after receiving a report that Yu Huan was seen taking Na Sheng from Jing City prison, deduced that Yu Huan, now a wanted man, had likely taken Na Sheng to the Heavenly Temple to deliver her to Zhi Zhe. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Zhen Lan entrusted the Heaven-Splitting Sword to Su Mo, urging him to use the full extent of his dragon deity power, and sent him to confront Zhi Zhe at the Heavenly Temple.
Su Mo accepted the formidable weapon, acknowledging the unpredictable battle ahead and his people's urgent need for freedom. Yu Huan arrived at the Heavenly Temple, announcing he had brought Na Sheng. Zhi Zhe, speaking from within, ordered Yu Huan to quell a rebellion by the Five Masters, promising him his desired position upon completion. Yu Huan, deeply concerned, asked about his sister, Yu Zhu.
Zhi Zhe calmly stated that Yu Zhu "should've already gone down to relay the edict," implying her demise. Inside, Zhi Zhe unveiled his true monstrous ambition to Na Sheng: not only did he desire the Heavenly Ring, but also the Earth Ring, and the deaths of both Na Sheng and Su Mo. Just as Zhi Zhe made his threats, Zhen Lan, who had freed Na Sheng inside the Heavenly Temple, arrived.
After Na Sheng confirmed she was unharmed, Zhen Lan, still concerned about Bai Ying and Su Mo, decided they must first remove the final seal and regain his strength before finding their friends. With Na Sheng's heavenly power, they discovered the last seal was hidden within the ancient Dark Golden Classics and could only be opened by Na Sheng using the Heavenly Ring. Meanwhile, Su Mo and Bai Ying reached the Heavenly Temple.
Zhi Zhe, sensing their arrival, trapped them inside. Just as their battle was about to begin, Zhen Lan unsealed the final seal. Su Mo confronted Zhi Zhe, addressing him by his true name, Lang Gan. Their battle ensued, reaching a peak where Zhi Zhe, in his arrogance, declared himself a deity from the clans of Yunfu City.
Zhi Zhe, unable to be defeated, warned Su Mo that he would need another 7,000 years to challenge him again before transforming into a wisp of black smoke and escaping. The clash of their powers triggered the reappearance of Pojun, the Easternmost Star of the Big Dipper, which Zhen Lan observed, knowing its return would bring worldwide turbulence, and emphasized the urgent need to find Zhi Zhe before he harmed Yunhuang.
Yu Huan returned from quelling the Five Masters' rebellion, having wiped them all out, but still found Yu Zhu nowhere to be found. The black smoke form of Zhi Zhe appeared to Yu Huan, offering to help locate his sister and grant him control over all of Yunhuang if he pledged allegiance. Zhi Zhe preyed on Yu Huan's deepest desires, reminding him of his ambition to forge his own destiny.
Consumed by grief and a twisted sense of opportunity, Yu Huan agreed, allowing the black smoke to enter and possess his body. Fei Lian, enraged upon learning that his father, Master Lang, and the Five Masters had been killed during Yu Huan's purge, confronted the now-possessed Yu Huan. He tried to reason with Yu Huan, urging him to stop his destructive path.
However, Yu Huan, his mind twisted by Zhi Zhe and his own grief for Yu Zhu, chillingly declared his family was gone and he wished for all of Cangliu to be buried with his sister. Fei Lian countered by accusing Yu Huan of killing his "own" only relative. Yu Huan, utterly broken, grimly stated that a merperson's heart lies in the middle, but his was "long gone."
Back with their allies, a recovering Yan Xi apologized to Na Sheng for taking her to Jing City. Na Sheng, filled with relief, reassured him that she didn't blame him and reaffirmed her desire to return to Biluo Sea with him, a wish Yan Xi considered the greatest honor of his life. Su Mo then convened a crucial meeting with Zhen Lan, Bai Ying, Yan Xi, and other elders.
He explained that Zhi Zhe, though physically defeated, had transferred his power to Yu Huan, whose consciousness he was now absorbing, making Yu Huan the new, ruthless leader of Cangliu. Su Mo charged Yan Xi with the vital task of guarding Quanxian Camp while they dealt with this new threat. Zhen Lan and Bai Ying confronted Yu Huan, warning him that Zhi Zhe was consuming his will and his actions would lead to endless suffering for Yunhuang. However, Yu Huan, now completely under Zhi Zhe's influence and his own despair, defiantly proclaimed his desire to "renounce this entire world."
