Moonlit Reunion Episode 27 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
On a stormy night, Mei Zhuyu observed Wu Zhen sitting calmly in her room reading, an unusual sight that made him question his earlier suspicions. After Wu Zhen went to bed, Mei Zhuyu reflected on how she always coincidentally appeared whenever he encountered demons. While he never doubted it before, he now found it too much of a coincidence.
He mused that although people called her arrogant and spoiled, she always seemed to be hiding something that even he and his father couldn't discern. He had observed her returning late, often worried and sometimes injured over the years, yet she never spoke of it. Finally, he asked her to pick him up from the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs the next day, and she agreed.
The next day, as his shift ended, Mei Zhuyu dismissed his subordinates, stating he had paperwork to finish, but in reality, he was waiting for Wu Zhen. She arrived as promised, entering the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Mei Zhuyu stood in the center of a formation, intended to reveal a demon's true form in the atrium. As Wu Zhen approached, he hesitated and told her not to come any closer. Wu Zhen asked what was wrong.
Upon seeing nothing, he simply told her, "Let's go home." However, as they walked towards the door, a stone from one part of the formation suddenly fell. Wu Zhen apologized, saying, "I'm sorry." Mei Zhuyu replied that it was alright, and Wu Zhen tried to cover up, claiming the Bureau was poorly built and she would have it repaired. They then left for home. Mei Zhuyu realized Wu Zhen had subtly sabotaged the formation in advance.
Meanwhile, Chang Ming, with his junior brothers, proceeded with his plan to open the Beast Market entrance, naming his strategy the "Four-sided Majestic Wind Formation." During their preparations, Chang Ming dismissed a junior brother's suggestion to wait for Mei Zhuyu and Shuang Jiang, stating that Mei Zhuyu was now busy with Bureau affairs and married, while Shuang Jiang would only be a hindrance. During the night, they were ambushed and poisoned by toxic smoke.
A junior brother explained that if Shuang Jiang hadn't brought a carriage and arrived in time, their unique scent left by the smoke, which attracts demons, would have given them away. Shuang Jiang clarified that it was Mei Zhuyu, their Tenth Brother, who had him prepare the carriage, anticipating their failure. Mei Zhuyu had also created talismans to ward off evil and mask their scent, which he instructed them to carry.
He also provided an address to a secluded residence 1. 5 km southeast of the city for their safe house. Upon returning to the Beast Market, Wu Zhen was pleased by the Celestial Masters' supposed failure. However, a demon subordinate informed her that the Celestial Masters were untraceable, surprising her. The subordinate then urged her to focus on her transformation into a full demon, revealing that the Attached Body Shop had already found her a new skin.
Wu Zhen was shocked, learning that her current form couldn't support the full demon power and she'd need to discard it for a new one, undergoing 100 years of seclusion. She confronted Wu Zishu, asking why he hadn't told her this. He coldly stated that the mundane world held nothing worthy of her attachment and questioned if she would risk her life for trivial matters.
He reminded her that she was a demon, unlike humans who suffer from birth, aging, sickness, death, weakness, and pain. He pressed her on who she could truly protect – her father, sister, or Mei Zhuyu – arguing that their paths diverged 18 years ago, and the outcome was inevitable. He concluded by telling her that as the Demon Master, she shouldn't be burdened by such meaningless attachments. Elder Hui visited Wu Zishu in his library.
After paying respects to a lingering soul, Elder Hui inquired about Wu Zishu's plans now that Sect Master Chang Ming had descended the mountain. Wu Zishu stated that he would help Chang Ming enter the Beast Market. When Elder Hui suggested that such a task shouldn't be difficult, Wu Zishu revealed his true desire: he disliked predictability and wanted an all-out confrontation, a battle to the death.
Elder Hui then questioned if these actions were for Wu Zishu's personal gain or for their great cause, to which Wu Zishu replied ambiguously, "For me, for you, and for our cause." Upon returning home, Wu Zhen found Mei Zhuyu roasting meat. She asked about the occasion, and Mei Zhuyu explained he was recalling his childhood, when his family would grill meat in the courtyard every winter. Wu Zhen remarked that grilling meat as a family sounded wonderful.
Mei Zhuyu then promised they would do it every winter from now on, even inviting her father to taste his cooking. As she watched him, the realization that their time together might be limited made her sad. The senior brothers, still reeking from the toxic smoke, received food from Shuang Jiang at their secluded hideaway. Despite the aid, one senior brother accused Mei Zhuyu of colluding with demons, citing his repeated defense of the Beast Market since leaving the mountain.
Shuang Jiang vehemently denied this, reminding them that Mei Zhuyu bore his parents' vengeance against demons and wouldn't betray their cause. Another brother retorted that Mei Zhuyu might have become a coward since marrying. Chang Ming intervened to calm the situation. Shuang Jiang reiterated that without Mei Zhuyu's foresight and arrangements, they might not even be alive. He then delivered Mei Zhuyu's message: if they wanted success, they should follow his plan.
Claiming he couldn't stand the stench and that Mei Zhuyu had arranged other lodging, Shuang Jiang left. The remaining senior brothers speculated that Mei Zhuyu had intentionally let them fail to make them follow his lead, calling it a cunning scheme. Mei Si was in his room, lost in thought while looking at a portrait of Liu Taizhen. A friend arrived, praising Mei Si for his "manly" decision to reject the marriage with Lady Liu.
The friend even presented him with portraits of various women he had carefully selected, offering a wide range of looks and styles. However, Mei Si described his ideal woman as reserved, aloof, slim, cold-demeanored, and speaking slowly yet sharply. His friend quickly realized Mei Si was simply describing Liu Taizhen, highlighting that Mei Si's heart was still set on her. Wu Zhen's aunt returned to the capital for a family visit, and Duke Wu hosted a grand banquet.
During the festivities, Mei Zhuyu toasted Wu Zhen's aunt, who thoughtfully provided him with fruit drinks instead of alcohol. Liu Taizhen privately informed Wu Zhen that Ling Xiao was still actively searching for the Celestial Masters and would take action if they caused trouble again. Liu Taizhen also cautioned her to be discreet, as her intimate relationship with Mei Zhuyu was already widely known.
The women further noted that Minister Liu, impressed by Mei Zhuyu, was now attempting to find Liu Taizhen a similar match, expressing concern about finding another "Mei Zhuyu" in Chang'an. Later, Mei Si noticed Wu Zhen discreetly massaging her lower back and kindly asked if she needed a physician, causing her some embarrassment. Meanwhile, Mei Zhuyu had retreated to the back courtyard for peace, avoiding the noisy women and children.
One particular "little tyrant," Wu Zhen's cousin's son, was making a huge fuss. Mei Zhuyu quickly drew a talisman that instantly calmed the child, making him quietly focus on writing. The child's mother, arriving shortly after, was amazed by the transformation, remarking that it was rare for someone so young to be so skilled with children and that Mei Zhuyu would make a good father. Witnessing Mei Zhuyu's gentle and effective way with the child, Wu Zhen's resolve wavered.
She confessed to her internal serpent spirit that she had changed her mind. Expressing that she thought her own experiences would be enough, she lamented that the human heart was simply too greedy. She implied she no longer wished to become a full demon, now yearning to have a child with Mei Zhuyu.
When Elder Hui informed Wu Zishu that Wu Zhen wished to postpone her transformation into a full demon, Wu Zishu reacted with outrage, reminding Elder Hui of their 18 years of effort. Elder Hui, however, defended Wu Zhen's decision, stating she had valid reasons and wouldn't gamble with her life before understanding her body's issues. He further asserted that Wu Zhen had decades of human life ahead, which was precious to her, and Wu Zishu should respect her decision.
Despite Elder Hui's counsel, Wu Zishu remained defiant, stating ominously that "the spark is lit, and some things will inevitably come to light." Fueled by hatred for Mei Zhuyu, Wu Zishu then directly asked Elder Hui if he had located the Celestial Masters. Elder Hui reported that due to tight security in the Beast Market and Chang'an, the Celestial Masters had found refuge in an abandoned residence outside the city. He added, to Wu Zishu's surprise, that he was able to track them thanks to Sect Master Chang Ming.
