Moonlit Reunion Episode 30 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
Celestial Masters emerged from the Beast Market, feeling as though their recent ordeal had been a dream. They were relieved to find that Chang'an remained unchanged, and they could finally return to their lives. Meanwhile, Wu Zhen awoke in a medicinal pool, where Wu Zishu stood waiting. She looked at him for a long moment before asking if he had long known about Mei Zhuyu's connection to Changxi Palace. Wu Zishu's silence was his admission.
He then explained that he had kept the truth from her because she had always insisted on experiencing both the good and the bad on her own, and he believed she would never give up on Mei Zhuyu if she hadn't witnessed this situation firsthand. He confessed that he never anticipated the situation would unfold this way, especially that the primordial core would come to reside within her.
Wu Zhen, in turn, felt a sudden unfamiliarity with Wu Zishu, her companion of decades, as if she had never truly known him. Mei Si sat up all night, consumed by worry. His concerns were confirmed when Xuan Hui returned, reporting that he had inquired with Ling Xiao and learned the Beast Market had faced a major crisis, leaving both Cat Master and Snake Master injured, though their wounds were not life-threatening. Despite the reassurance, Mei Si remained anxious.
Upon learning that his cousin, Mei Zhuyu, was the unexpected source of the trouble, he was left speechless. Elsewhere, Mingzhuang and Wenhua observed the untouched feast laid out, realizing that Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen had not returned home all night. Mingzhuang, concerned, expressed her declining status in the household hierarchy, lamenting her importance had dwindled from second to fifth. As Mei Zhuyu re-entered the house, looking disheartened, Mingzhuang immediately asked if Wu Zhen had returned with him.
He remained silent. Shortly after, Mei Si rushed in, having initially hoped it was Wu Zhen. Mei Si, indignant, accused Mei Zhuyu of keeping secrets, echoing Mei Zhuyu's earlier retort about Mei Si's own hidden information regarding the Beast Market. Mei Si, still worried about Liu Taizhen, persistently asked if Mei Zhuyu could take him to the Beast Market again, as his "mole" Ling Xiao had only provided vague details and had even called Mei Zhuyu heartless.
Mei Zhuyu, however, stated he had no way to enter. Mei Si claimed that other contacts like Ling Xiao and Hu Zhu refused to help, leaving Mei Zhuyu as his only hope, comparing their shared predicaments. Mei Zhuyu reiterated that he truly could not take Mei Si to the Beast Market, but Mei Si vowed patience. At the same time, Liu Taizhen personally tended to Wu Zhen’s injuries, giving her some demonic power to alleviate her pain.
Liu Taizhen acknowledged Wu Zhen's arduous 18 years as a half-demon sealing the primordial core in her mortal body. Wu Zhen finally understood that the former Cat Master’s warning about no free lunch referred to this, not just her duties as Cat Master. Outside, Wu Zishu waited until late into the night.
When Liu Taizhen finally emerged, she informed him that Wu Zhen would need to stay in the Beast Market for several days to recuperate, suggesting that Wu Zishu should focus on his official duties instead of waiting. The next morning, Mei Zhuyu, still feeling the effects of a hangover, received a message via a paper crane, informing him that his senior brothers were leaving the capital to return to Changxi Palace. He rushed to see them off.
Mei Zhuyu attempted to bestow the Changxi Mace upon his Second Senior Brother, Xiao Mu. He explained that although he had used it in an emergency, he was not a member of Changxi Palace, making it inappropriate for him to retain it, and believed Xiao Mu was the most suitable new sect master.
However, Xiao Mu firmly refused, stating that the mace, given by their Master, belonged to Mei Zhuyu and that Chang Ming’s dark magic had caused the mace to be unwilling to submit. Mei Zhuyu expressed his gratitude for Xiao Mu's covert assistance during the White Night Formation, an intervention unknown to their other brothers.
Xiao Mu then reminded him that a Celestial Master's duty should not be confined by a mere weapon, but as Mei Zhuyu remained in Chang'an, serving in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, he would inevitably encounter more demons. He advised Mei Zhuyu to keep the Changxi Mace to fulfill his role as a Celestial Master. As they exchanged heartfelt farewells, speaking of destiny and the possibility of future reunions, Mei Zhuyu sensed a presence nearby.
He turned, but no one was there. As Shuang Jiang and his fellow senior brothers embarked on their journey home, Hu Zhu stood by the roadside, having waited since early morning. She explained that Wu Zhen, the Cat Master, had sent her to see them off and ensure their departure, so that peace could return to the Beast Market.
Hu Zhu then relayed Wu Zhen’s solemn vow: as long as the primordial core remained within her, she would prevent it from ever wreaking havoc upon the world again, no matter the personal cost. Shortly after, Shuang Jiang returned, explaining he had specifically waited in line for her favorite flatbread at the East Market shop, anticipating she hadn't had breakfast, and gave it to her as dry rations for her journey back.
As they prepared to part, Shuang Jiang comically attempted to "test" a dilapidated building for demons, inadvertently drawing out some aggressive demons. He quickly fended them off, protecting Hu Zhu. Hu Zhu then asked Shuang Jiang about his greatest wish, to which he firmly replied, "To get rid of demons!" They shared a final glance before parting ways, Hu Zhu watching Shuang Jiang's figure recede into the distance, old memories fading as they embarked on their separate paths.
Mei Si, still undeterred, continued to pester Mei Zhuyu about entering the Beast Market to see Liu Taizhen. One day, while Mei Si sat lamenting his situation in Mei Zhuyu’s room, he found an exquisite box containing two wooden dolls. Mei Zhuyu explained they were a birthday gift from Duke Yu. Mei Si, after initially speculating that the dolls resembled Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen, decided they looked more like himself and Liu Taizhen, lamenting how much he missed her.
In a sudden flash of light, Mei Si felt an inexplicable jolt, and his soul transferred into Liu Taizhen's body, while Liu Taizhen's soul entered his. At that very moment in the Beast Market, Liu Taizhen, whose soul was now in Mei Si’s body, was speaking with Mei Zhuyu when Wu Zhen arrived, accompanied by Mei Si, whose soul was now in Liu Taizhen’s body.
Wu Zhen quickly realized the soul swap and called out to Liu Taizhen (in Mei Si’s body), who then explained that Mei Si had caused the swap using the wooden dolls. Mei Si, trapped in Liu Taizhen’s body, was utterly shocked and cried out about becoming a woman. Wu Zhen, scolding him, suspected the wooden dolls to be the cause of this predicament.
Mei Si, in Liu Taizhen’s body, immediately insisted they leave the Beast Market to find his original body and switch back. On their way to Mei Zhuyu’s mansion, they had to navigate past several Beast Market guards, with Wu Zhen urging Mei Si (in Liu Taizhen’s body) to compose himself and not reveal their situation.
Once they arrived at Mei’s residence, Liu Taizhen (in Mei Si’s body), frustrated and impatient, confronted Mei Si (in Liu Taizhen’s body), telling him to stop making silly expressions with her face and demanding they switch their bodies back using the dolls. That night, Mei Zhuyu stood in the courtyard, where lanterns swayed gently in the night wind.
On the stone table, a few delicate dishes and osmanthus cakes, along with a pot of warmed Apricot Gold wine, which had been prepared for Wu Zhen's birthday, awaited. He had anticipated Wu Zhen would come, expecting her to appear in her demon form with something important to say, and preemptively offered an apology, admitting he had let her down that night. However, Wu Zhen’s expression remained cold.
She stated that from the moment Mei Zhuyu opened the barrier, she had understood his true intentions. She declared that the memories of their past conflicts, the swords drawn between them, could not be erased. Even if a ceasefire had been declared, they were still of different paths, and it was impossible for them to walk together.
She further explained that because of her, the killer of Mei Zhuyu's parents would continue to exist, and he would have to face his enemy day and night. If he did not kill her, and if one day his love for her waned and he sought revenge, she would pay with her life for their current love. Mei Zhuyu attempted to explain, but Wu Zhen was unwilling to listen.
She asserted that their destined connection had run its course and proposed a divorce, saying it was better to let each other go given their difficult and unpredictable situation. In a desperate attempt, Mei Zhuyu forcibly kissed her, but Wu Zhen pushed him away, turning and vanishing into the night, leaving behind only the untouched food and wine and a profound silence in the courtyard.
