Moonlit Reunion Episode 20 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
Wu Zishu found Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu trapped in a powerful formation Pei Jiya had set. Wu Zishu confronted Pei Jiya, demanding to know how to break the array. Pei Jiya, with a sinister smile, admitted the formation was designed to kill Mei Zhuyu, stating it was incredibly intricate and required a blood and flesh sacrifice, meaning one of them was destined to die even if the core was found.
As the surrounding rocks began to close in, threatening their lives, Mei Zhuyu finally confessed his feelings to Wu Zhen. He revealed that he had fallen for her back in the flower fields of the western outskirts but had hesitated to express his love, fearing he would bring her harm. With his confession, Mei Zhuyu forcefully pushed Wu Zhen out of the formation, plunging himself into the deep chasm as a swirling black mist swallowed him whole.
Standing outside the perilous rocks, Wu Zhen cried out Mei Zhuyu's name in anguish. Wu Zishu, enraged, was about to end Pei Jiya's life when a flash of light burst from the formation. Mei Zhuyu, having discerned the array's core, swiftly struck and pierced Pei Jiya’s right eye. Despite showing signs of petrification, Mei Zhuyu miraculously unleashed a surge of spiritual power, shattering the formation's restraints from within.
As the dust settled, Wu Zhen rushed to embrace the staggering Mei Zhuyu, holding him tightly. Returning to the boat, Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu found Pei Jiya with his right eye bleeding profusely. Pei Jiya admitted his hatred stemmed from jealousy and his desire to eliminate Mei Zhuyu. However, Wu Zhen discerned his deeper machinations, accusing him of orchestrating the recent ink demon chaos in the capital.
She recounted her suspicions, which began when an attendant at Ruyi Pavilion, unusually, lit an incense upon Pei Jiya's arrival, causing her to mistake him for Mei Zhuyu. Further reports from Hu Zhu of his frequent presence in the ink room had only solidified her misgivings.
Pei Jiya desperately claimed all his actions were to win her affection, explaining that he had sacrificed his right eye to acquire the suppression technique, hoping to become strong enough to be worthy of her love and make her admire him. Wu Zhen, however, furiously chastised him for his cold-hearted refusal to save her when she was trapped in his formation. Pei Jiya admitted he hesitated, but asserted it was human nature, claiming Mei Zhuyu would have done the same.
Despite Pei Jiya's suffering from the dark magic's backlash, Mei Zhuyu, in an act of compassion, removed the arrow from his eye. Wu Zhen, under the guise of allowing him to recuperate, ordered Pei Jiya to go to Kunzhou and never return to the capital, ensuring the Emperor would remain oblivious to the incident and avoiding potential court turmoil. Meanwhile, Mei Si escorted Liu Taizhen back to the capital, vowing to keep her secret.
Liu Taizhen, however, maintained a deliberate distance, urging him to abandon his feelings for her, but Mei Si secretly resolved to formally marry her someday. Pei Jiya, on his journey south with his maids, still harbored a faint hope that his dark magic could yet win Wu Zhen. He then received a secret message from his benefactor, revealing Mei Zhuyu to be a Celestial Master of Changxi Palace.
Pei Jiya speculated that Mei Zhuyu's hidden identity must serve a deeper purpose, and he eagerly anticipated the downfall of Mei Zhuyu’s and Wu Zhen's relationship. That night, Xuan Hui led Mei Si to Qiu Pond in the east, which he revealed to be the birthplace of his kind. He then plunged into the water, vanishing instantly. Mei Si, worried for his safety, watched as the pond water churned violently, and a massive black snake burst forth, its scales shimmering.
In an instant, the serpent transformed into a handsome young man dressed in black. Just then, Liu Taizhen arrived under the moonlight, forming hand seals and pointing at Xuan Hui. She fiercely rebuked him for the massacre of innocents after his escape from the Beast Market. Xuan Hui scoffed, showing no remorse, and claimed his victims deserved to die. The two immediately engaged in battle.
As Liu Taizhen had recently undergone molting, her magical power was not yet fully recovered, leaving her vulnerable. She struggled against Xuan Hui, eventually finding herself outmatched. Unable to restrain himself, Mei Si bravely rushed forward, positioning his mortal body in front of Liu Taizhen to shield her from the demonic power, leaving Liu Taizhen stunned. Seeing Mei Si's self-sacrificing act, Xuan Hui paused his attack, rebuking Liu Taizhen for her heartlessness and disregard for their shared kin.
As tensions escalated between them, Wu Zhen suddenly appeared, her powerful aura instantly silencing the confrontation. Mei Si realized that Wu Zhen was, in fact, the Cat Spirit, while Xuan Hui was shocked that his whereabouts had been discovered. Wu Zhen struck Xuan Hui twice, retaliating for his past transgressions, including his collusion with the Hui Sect during the Sky Lantern Festival and his involvement in the ink demon chaos.
Liu Taizhen, still intent on punishing Xuan Hui, was stopped by Wu Zhen, who presented the Clarifying Mirror to reveal Xuan Hui's past. The mirror showed Xuan Hui as a young, injured Little Ying Dragon, cowering in a corner of the Beast Market, subjected to extreme bullying until he finally retaliated and killed his tormentors. Witnessing this, Liu Taizhen fell silent. As the Serpent Master, she pardoned Xuan Hui's remaining twenty-year sentence, acknowledging his sympathetic circumstances.
Recognizing that he was nearing his ascension, Wu Zhen allowed him to remain in the mortal world, specifically at Mei's residence, under Mei Si's supervision. Later that night, Wu Zhen returned to her residence to find Mei Zhuyu waiting for her outside. He mustered his courage to express his love, apologizing for his past hesitation and vowing to protect her and ensure no one, not even himself, would ever harm her again as he gently applied medicine to her injuries.
