Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Episode 9 Recap
> Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities Recap
General Xi Jing and Ting were traveling, making their way back to their destination. Upon arriving at Taoyuan Province, Xi Jing entered a tavern to drink, while Ting discreetly went to the Ruyi Gambling House to inquire about Young Master Su Mo. She identified herself as Ting, former Infantry Battalion Commander of Quanxian, and explained she had received a sound pearl indicating that the Young Master was returning from Tianque, expecting him to come to Taoyuan Province first.
The person she asked feigned ignorance of Su Mo's return. Meanwhile, Na Sheng was struggling to carry an injured Yan Xi through an alley, narrowly escaping Cangliu pursuers by cleverly mimicking a cat's meow. Fortunately, Su Mo found them. Na Sheng, calling him "Brother Ice Cube," pleaded with him not to arrest her. Su Mo sternly told her, "If you don't want to die, then don't mess around here all day," and took them under his protection, ensuring safer passage.
At the Ruyi Gambling House, Xi Jing, having lost his money gambling and nearly mortgaging Ting, spotted Su Mo. Recognizing him, Xi Jing immediately wanted to engage in a fight. Ruyi intervened, suggesting it was inappropriate to fight there and led them to a more secluded location. There, Xi Jing angrily confronted Su Mo, accusing him, "Why didn't you fight back? Feeling guilty? For what you did to A'Ying a hundred years ago, I should've killed you just now!"
Xi Jing then stabbed Su Mo with his sword, but to his astonishment, Su Mo did not resist, and his wound healed instantly. Su Mo calmly replied, "Even if you want to kill me, Bai Ying should do it personally. I won't trouble you with this. I still have a life I need to save right now. General, please don't push me too hard."
Xi Jing, frustrated, agreed to postpone their battle, stating he would wait for Su Mo to find a private place for them to fight again. Just then, Ting found her Young Master, Su Mo, and was relieved to see him. She revealed Su Mo's identity as the Sea Emperor, which a bewildered Xi Jing overheard.
Ting then explained to Xi Jing that she had come to the gambling house because Ruyi had informed them that Quanxian's Sea Emperor had returned to Yunhuang. Xi Jing, hearing this, finally understood Su Mo's true identity. Su Mo then turned his attention to Yan Xi, who was in critical condition due to a highly lethal poison from a venomous arrow.
With a powerful spell, Su Mo swiftly healed Yan Xi's injuries, but noted that Yan Xi would still require considerable rest to fully recover. Ruyi, witnessing the rapid healing, inquired, "Young Master, what spells did you learn? How did you heal the injuries on Yan Xi's body that quickly? Will this harm you?" Su Mo brushed off her concern, stating he was fine and that Yan Xi's life was saved because he had consumed a "snow poppy."
However, Su Mo himself visibly struggled with discomfort, nearly vomiting, before instructing Ruyi to keep watch outside as he needed to rest. Na Sheng, still searching for Su Mo and Yan Xi, arrived in Taoyuan Province and coincidentally met Bai Ying. The two decided to search for Su Mo together within the Ruyi Gambling House. During their search, Bai Ying was overjoyed to stumble upon her Senior Brother, Xi Jing.
Xi Jing, however, felt a deep sense of guilt, telling her, "Junior Sister, I've wronged you. When Master entrusted you to me that year, I failed in my duty. I should have realized earlier that fellow harbored evil intentions." Bai Ying comforted him, saying, "Senior Brother, don't say that. Everything was decreed by fate."
In another location, Zhen Lan presented Hong Yuan and Bai Ying with special sunlight protection cloaks, explaining that he had condensed a spell into them, making them effective for four hours. He cautioned them to watch a flashing gem on the cloak, as its increasing speed would indicate the magic was fading. Hong Yuan, delighted with her cloak, then noticed a distinct Snow Cherry Blossom pattern on Bai Ying's cloak, which was absent from her own.
She playfully asked Zhen Lan about it, suggesting he must still favor Bai Ying. Zhen Lan, flustered, quickly insisted there was no difference in effectiveness, claiming he had "randomly" put the design on Bai Ying's cloak. Hong Yuan teased him further, noting, "Seems like we're able to obtain this sunlight protection cloak, all thanks to A'Ying." General Yu Huan of Cangliu, also in Taoyuan Province, encountered the old man who had attempted to sell Na Sheng.
Under interrogation, the old man confessed to having seen Na Sheng, described as a young lady from the Central Plains wearing a ring, along with a merperson in blue clothes, confirming that Na Sheng was indeed in Taoyuan Province. Bai Ying then explained to Xi Jing that Na Sheng was their vital benefactor, "the one that the Heavenly Ring chose" and "the one who undid the Crown Prince's first seal."
She revealed that the Cangliu people were relentlessly pursuing Na Sheng, and implored Xi Jing to protect her so she could "successfully undo the other seals," as they, the Six Princes of Kongsang, "can't walk in the sunlight anymore" due to the price paid to open Wuse City. Xi Jing, however, expressed deep disillusionment, claiming he was "already old and have drank too much," and had lost his will to fight after witnessing the horrors of war.
Bai Ying was gravely disappointed, asserting that Xi Jing, as her revered senior brother, could not abandon his responsibilities. She passionately argued that if they, the only ones capable, refused to act due to fear or past failures, the "one hundred thousand Kongsang citizens in deep sleep in Wuse City" would be lost forever. Just then, Na Sheng arrived, asking Bai Ying for help finding Su Mo, now revealed as "Quanxian's Emperor of the Sea."
This revelation further bewildered Xi Jing, who was shocked to learn Bai Ying was seeking Su Mo. While continuing her search, Bai Ying was confronted by Ruyi, who insisted she was merely the gambling house owner and denied any prior acquaintance with Bai Ying. Moments later, Ruyi used magic to imprison Bai Ying in a secret room. Inside, Bai Ying found Su Mo.
His demeanor was alarmingly unnatural; initially appearing overly affectionate, he suddenly became violent, gripping her neck and demanding, "Bai Ying, for how long do you want to torment me exactly? !" Bai Ying, sensing he was not himself, recognized he was succumbing to inner demons. Su Mo, struggling for control, told her "Remember to forget" and then urged her, "Hurry and leave!" before he completely lost himself.
Meanwhile, Na Sheng tried to explain to Ruyi her reasons for seeking Su Mo, clarifying that Yan Xi was wounded and Su Mo had rescued him. Ruyi, however, continued to deny their presence. Suddenly, many Cangliu soldiers, led by Nan Zhao, stormed the gambling house downstairs, clearly searching for Na Sheng and Yan Xi.
Realizing the grave danger, Ruyi urgently begged Na Sheng to take a special pearl out of the city and place it in the river, explaining that Yan Xi's life depended on this message reaching its destination. Though initially hesitant and fearing the soldiers were after her, Na Sheng ultimately agreed to the critical task. As Nan Zhao's soldiers began their search, Na Sheng spotted a drawing of herself and Yan Xi, confirming that she was indeed their target.
Frightened, she quickly fled through the back door of the gambling house. General Yu Huan, arriving at the gambling house, directly questioned Ruyi, showing her drawings of Na Sheng and Yan Xi. Ruyi, maintaining a calm facade, denied ever seeing them and firmly rejected the accusation of harboring criminals. Unconvinced, Yu Huan ordered his soldiers to search the premises, remarking on Ruyi's unusual confidence and suspecting the presence of many hidden rooms and tunnels within the gambling house.
In the secret room, Bai Ying desperately sought to understand the dark change in Su Mo. He confronted her, heartbroken, saying, "You're the one who asked me to forget. But I think of you all the time! I transformed for you. Do you know? In this lifetime, I cannot possibly love another person. Yet what about you? In merely a hundred years, you've forgotten about me. How did you do it? Forgotten just like that? Didn't you survive?
Why didn't you come to find me?" He confessed that at the moment she jumped from the pagoda, he "wholeheartedly wanted to jump off with you" and now despaired, "Bai Ying. . . what must I do to have your heart?" As he spoke, overwhelmed by his emotions, Su Mo collapsed, clutching his chest. Bai Ying held him, deeply worried and questioning what powerful, dangerous spell he was training in that could cause such a strong, uncontrollable resonance within him.
General Yu Huan then proceeded to search the gambling house himself, entering the very room where Su Mo and Bai Ying had been, determined to uncover "exactly how many hidden rooms and passages" Ruyi possessed. Despite her outward composure, Ruyi harbored deep anxiety as Yu Huan began his thorough inspection.
