Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 43 (Ending) Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
Yu Huan, who was revealed to be Puojun, had fallen under Zhi Zhe's manipulative influence, his will slowly consumed. Zhen Lan and Bai Ying attempted to reason with him, warning that Zhi Zhe would plunge Yunhuang into ceaseless chaos, but their efforts were futile. Yu Huan, declaring his desire to renounce the entire world, easily overpowered them both, leaving them injured. Just as they were struck down, Su Mo arrived, enraged to see Bai Ying wounded.
He confronted Yu Huan, asking if he believed that gaining Zhi Zhe's power allowed him to act with impunity. Zhi Zhe, speaking through Yu Huan, revealed his deep-seated animosity, recalling how "Chun Huang" had interfered with his relationship with Bai Wei 7,000 years prior, and accusing Su Mo of now disrupting his plans.
Su Mo accused Zhi Zhe of using Bai Wei as an excuse to seize Quanxian's wealth and enslave its ancestors, asserting that Zhi Zhe's true ambition was to expand his own power. Zhi Zhe then declared his intent to "create a new order" and "tear apart everything in Yunhuang," an ambition Su Mo had previously denounced as aiming for the extinction of Kongsang's 100,000 innocent people.
As the confrontation intensified, Su Mo, Zhen Lan, and Bai Ying realized that Zhi Zhe was in fact Lang Gan. Though not a deity himself, Su Mo declared his unwavering resolve to seal Zhi Zhe, even if it required expending all his power. After a fierce battle where Yu Huan initially gained the upper hand, Su Mo, refusing to yield, resolved to seal Lang Gan.
Simultaneously, the divine powers of Zhen Lan's and Bai Ying's rings converged, manifesting the Dragon Deity. This deity's power coalesced into the Splitting Sword, which Su Mo then wielded. With a decisive strike, he sealed both Yu Huan and Zhi Zhe. To prevent Zhi Zhe's power from ever escaping again and causing further chaos in Yunhuang, the combined forces of Yu Huan and Zhi Zhe were permanently sealed beneath Jing Lake.
Following their victory, Goddess Huijia of Yunfu City appeared, expressing her gratitude to Su Mo, Bai Ying, and Zhen Lan for sealing Zhi Zhe and safeguarding Yunhuang. Huijia informed Zhen Lan that with Zhi Zhe sealed, he could now open Wuse City and awaken Kongsang's 100,000 slumbering citizens. Seeing the six stars shining once more, Zhen Lan realized that he and the other five princes were spared from their prophesied fate of turning to ash.
Huijia explained that their collective efforts had successfully rewritten their destinies. Su Mo then instructed Zhen Lan and Bai Ying to proceed with opening Wuse City, arranging to rendezvous with them later at Biluo Sea. After Zhen Lan and Bai Ying departed, Su Mo inquired about his third prophecy. Huijia revealed that it no longer existed, as he had rewritten his own destiny. When asked if he regretted his choices, Su Mo affirmed he did not.
Huijia then disclosed her knowledge of the Sea Oath of Star Soul, explaining that the moment he cast that spell, his and Bai Ying's destinies became inextricably bound, linked in both life and death. This sacrifice not only enabled Bai Ying's rebirth but also saved the princes from their fate, yet it inflicted immense damage upon Su Mo. Huijia, struggling to comprehend his profound sacrifice, questioned his reasons.
Su Mo's sole, resolute desire was simply for Bai Ying to live a long life. Meanwhile, Fei Lian, leading the entire Cangliu Army, pledged his allegiance to Zhen Lan. Zhen Lan graciously incorporated the Cangliu Army into Kongsang's forces, prioritizing individuals with strong abilities and a commitment to justice. He declared the continuation of the Land-Sea Alliance, ensuring perpetual peace between Kongsang and Quanxian. Bai Ying then joined Su Mo, ready to return to Biluo Sea.
Under Su Mo's leadership, all the Quanxian people joyfully returned to their ancestral home. As they settled in Biluo Sea, Bai Ying reminded Su Mo of her past wish to witness the vast Seven Seas and hear the ocean's waves. Su Mo affirmed his willingness to be with her, fulfilling her long-held dream. The Quanxian people celebrated his return, hailing him as the Emperor of the Sea.
However, Su Mo soon withdrew to an ice room alone, his body visibly aging. He summoned Sishi, confessing that sealing Zhi Zhe had utterly depleted his powers, leaving his own life in peril. Sishi, recognizing the Sea Oath of Star Soul as a forbidden art that entwined two lives, explained that if one person died, the other could not survive.
To secure a complete life for Bai Ying, Su Mo desperately implored Sishi to sever the blood tie of the Sea Oath between them. With his decision made, Su Mo gathered the Quanxian people to announce his abdication as Emperor of the Sea. He stated that his duty to lead them back to Biluo Sea was fulfilled, making his stepping down necessary.
He temporarily entrusted the governance of Quanxian to Yan Xi, the Commissioner of the Left, inviting the people to support him as their new Emperor if they trusted him. He urged Yan Xi to maintain Quanxian's strength. As Sishi performed the ritual to sever the bond, Su Mo's hair began to whiten, a stark visual of his rapidly fading life force.
Na Sheng, upon learning of Su Mo's impending sacrifice, attempted to rush to Bai Ying, fearing she would be consumed by sorrow and regret, but was restrained by others who reminded her of Su Mo's wishes to keep it hidden. Sishi confirmed that the cutting of the blood tie was complete. The Dragon Deity then appeared to guide Su Mo to his final rest.
Su Mo made one last request: to be transformed into rain and sprinkled over the land of Yunhuang, believing it to be his final act for the world he loved. The Dragon Deity granted his wish, confirming that Su Mo would become mist, vanish, and then transform into rain to rejuvenate Yunhuang. With his last vestiges of strength, Su Mo went to Bai Ying, taking her to Tianque, the place of their first reunion a century ago.
As they reminisced, Bai Ying, sensing his declining health, tearfully pleaded for the truth about the Sea Oath. Su Mo, however, chose to remain silent, preferring that she resent him rather than bear the pain of his sacrifice. He then faded from her sight. Distraught, Bai Ying clutched the Sun Blocking Pearl he had given her, desperately searching for him.
In her grief, she deluded herself into believing he was merely hiding, as he had a century ago, and would return in another hundred years. She knocked on the pearl three times, and Su Mo miraculously reappeared. Believing the Sea Oath was still intact, Bai Ying confronted him, asking why he had made her search for so long.
Su Mo reaffirmed his old promise to appear if she knocked three times, but then solemnly declared that from that day onward, he might have to break his promises. He implored her to live happily even without him and urged her to forget him. With a final, poignant promise, Su Mo vanished completely, telling Bai Ying that every year, on the fifteenth day of the tenth month, he would return with the tide to Yunhuang to see her.
In the ensuing peace, Zhi Xiu and Hong Yuan were reunited, finding their happy ending. Zhen Lan embraced his role as the King of Kongsang, often contemplating the inherent loneliness of imperial rule. Na Sheng and Yan Xi also found companionship and joy in Biluo Sea, with Na Sheng dedicating herself to researching healing herbs for Yunhuang and communicating with Zhen Lan via a sea conch.
Before her departure, Bai Ying shared a final, meaningful farewell with Zhen Lan, returning the Heavenly Ring and formally severing her ties to Kongsang's royalty. Zhen Lan understood that her heart would forever belong to Su Mo, who, though physically gone, remained her truest love. In remembrance of Su Mo's sacrifice, the people of Yunhuang established the fifteenth of the tenth month as the Sea Deity Festival.
Three years passed, with Bai Ying faithfully waiting by the Biluo Sea for Su Mo's promised return. Despite her longing, he did not appear. However, as despair began to set in, a radiant light emerged from the sea. Su Mo, riding the light, manifested and flew towards Bai Ying, her eyes overflowing with tears of profound joy and relief as they were reunited.
