Moonlit Reunion Episode 29 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
Mei Zhuyu remained composed when Wu Zhen questioned him about his activities. He simply stated that Chang Ming and his group were old acquaintances, new to the capital, and temporarily residing at Ruyi Pavilion for leisure. Wu Zhen's eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, and although she didn't expose the flaws in his explanation, she wasn't convinced. After exchanging brief pleasantries with Chang Ming, she took Mei Zhuyu and departed.
Once they were out of sight, Chang Ming instructed his disciple, Eleventh Brother, to follow them. Eleventh Brother, while observing Mei Zhuyu, later scoffed, believing him to be just a common man infatuated with women. He reported back to Chang Ming, ceasing his surveillance. Meanwhile, Chang Ming continued to torture Hu Zhu, pressuring her to reveal the location of the Beast Market.
He told her the Beast Market clearly didn't care if she lived or died and that if she cooperated, she wouldn't suffer anymore. Hu Zhu, however, clenched her jaw, enduring the torment without divulging any information. Shuang Jiang, witnessing her suffering, could only stand by, bound by his Sect Master's orders. Hu Zhu was eventually forced to lead Chang Ming and his followers to an abandoned temple.
She pointed to a deep pond, explaining that the entrance to the Beast Market lay beneath the water, protected by a formation that needed to be broken. Shuang Jiang subtly sent a message to Mei Zhuyu via a paper crane, warning him that Changxi Palace planned to enter the Beast Market that night. Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen were heading home when the paper crane arrived.
After reading the message, Mei Zhuyu decided to leave immediately, instructing Wu Zhen to stay at home and promising to explain everything upon his return. Alone in the courtyard, Wu Zhen reflected on Mei Zhuyu's past statements, remembering he once mentioned being the Eleventh Brother and possessing skills in both spiritual arts and martial arts. She realized this confirmed his identity as a member of Changxi Palace.
Mei Zhuyu, following a trail, arrived at the abandoned temple and found items left behind by others on the ground, finally locating the entrance to the Beast Market. Just then, a calico cat appeared under the moonlight. Mei Zhuyu recognized it as Wu Zhen in her transformed state. Wu Zhen immediately revealed her true form, her expression stern as she questioned Mei Zhuyu's resolve to enter the Beast Market, warning him that such an act would sever their ties.
She reminded him of his past words about not defying the laws of nature, even with magic, and yet he was now calling down thunder. Mei Zhuyu admitted he hadn't intended to hide anything and was given one last chance by Wu Zhen. After a long silence, he ultimately chose to step forward. Wu Zhen promptly intervened, and the two clashed under the moonlight, their combat intense.
Mei Zhuyu finally broke through her resistance and entered the Beast Market, where he found Chang Ming and his group suspended in mid-air, a precarious and unpredictable situation. It was revealed that Wu Zhen's earlier remarks upon entering Ruyi Pavilion were a secret command. Hu Zhu, understanding the true meaning, had feigned betrayal to lure Chang Ming into a trap. The Beast Market had already laid out an elaborate ambush.
Wu Zhen then projected scenes of the Beast Market, showing its inhabitants living peaceful, content, and independent lives. She argued that these demons had done nothing wrong and asked why Changxi Palace insisted on conflict. She directly questioned Chang Ming's character and the potential chaos within Changxi Palace under his leadership.
Chang Ming countered, reminding Mei Zhuyu of the grievances from eighteen years ago, when he claimed the fire chaos was caused by the Beast Market, had led to countless deaths, and implied it was responsible for Mei Zhuyu's parents' death.
Wu Zhen then led everyone to the Demon Prison, where she presented the Mirror of Clarity to reveal the truth: the Beast Market had suffered immensely to defeat the Sinister Fiend Infant, which was responsible for the fire chaos, and the previous Cat Master had died in the process. Chang Ming vehemently rejected this, dismissing it as demonic trickery meant to deceive them.
However, Mei Zhuyu and some other disciples began to harbor doubts, especially after a Celestial Master confirmed the Mirror of Clarity's authenticity and its inability to be tampered with. As the manifestation of the Sinister Fiend's remnant soul (black smoke) suddenly dissipated, it became clear that the Sinister Fiend's primordial core had escaped. Seizing the opportunity, Chang Ming abruptly attacked, revealing his true nature as a heretic cultivator as he directly absorbed demonic power to enhance his cultivation.
Liu Taizhen suddenly recalled that this was the same technique used by the black-clad assailant who attacked them on Luwei Mountain, realizing that Chang Ming was that assailant. The disciples were horrified, shocked to discover their Sect Master had succumbed to the evil path. At this critical moment, a primordial core erupted from within Wu Zhen's body. It was the Sinister Fiend's primordial core, which had been given to her at its death, saving her life.
Chang Ming, elated, sought to forcibly take the primordial core. Witnessing Wu Zhen's excruciating pain, Mei Zhuyu finally summoned the Changxi Mace, its golden light directly striking Chang Ming. Chang Ming, however, showed no remorse for practicing dark magic (the Cell Transformation Technique), asserting that his actions were for what he desired and to fight demons.
He also harbored murderous intent towards Mei Zhuyu, feeling that his talent overshadowed him, and that their master had always favored Mei Zhuyu, intending to pass the Sect Master position to him. As Chang Ming channeled his power, his body suddenly exploded, shocking everyone present. It was revealed in a flashback that years ago, Chang Ming had discovered dark cultivation methods in the forbidden archives.
His master had caught him, and Chang Ming had feigned repentance, swearing a poisonous oath that if he ever practiced such dark magic again, he would be obliterated. His master had warned him against shortcuts in cultivation, saying they would lead to a devastating fall. Now, Chang Ming died as he had sworn. Mei Zhuyu understood that his master had subtly embedded the oath into Chang Ming's meridians, ensuring he would face the consequences of his actions.
The other disciples were left with a mix of emotions. Elder Hui, who had been observing from the shadows, was disappointed, having hoped Chang Ming would retrieve the primordial core but instead finding him to be incompetent. The Celestial Masters, utterly ashamed that their Sect Master had practiced dark magic, apologized profusely.
Wu Zhen, though forgiving, sternly decreed that the Celestial Master lineage (Changxi Palace) was forever forbidden from stepping foot in Chang'an and from targeting the Beast Market without cause. Immediately after, Wu Zhen collapsed. Wu Zishu, holding her, walked past Mei Zhuyu, telling him to stay away from Zhen. He assured Mei Zhuyu that he would take care of her, as she was likely affected by Chang Ming's Cell Transformation Technique.
