Moonlit Reunion Episode 8 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
Shuang Jiang, finding no meat in the house and knowing his senior martial brother’s frugal nature, set up a fortune-telling stall on the street. However, his efforts were in vain; from morning till dusk, passersby hurried on, and not a single person stopped. Just as Shuang Jiang’s stomach rumbled with hunger, he caught a whiff of rich meat.
Hu Zhu appeared before him, holding a chicken leg, and led him to a dilapidated ancestral hall in the east of the city. She explained she had come specifically to find him, claiming that strange noises emanated from the hall at night and asking him to banish a demon. Shuang Jiang surveyed the ruined ancestral hall, observing wild cats scurrying among the crumbling walls and dense cobwebs near the dry well, indicating clear abnormalities.
Yet, he detected no unusual signs, instead advising Hu Zhu not to be overly suspicious. Hu Zhu provocatively suggested she might be a demon herself, but Shuang Jiang scoffed, producing his ritual tools and declaring that all demons were hideous. Offended, Hu Zhu secretly cast a spell, causing a rotten eave beam to break and fall. Luckily, the beam unexpectedly crashed towards Hu Zhu, and Shuang Jiang, seeing the danger, selflessly pulled her to safety.
This act softened Hu Zhu's anger, replacing it with a subtle flutter in her heart. Just then, the Prayer Mat Demon materialized as a playful child, gleefully running circles around Shuang Jiang. Shuang Jiang fumbled with his ritual tools, yet was unable to even graze the child's clothes. As he frantically flipped through "Records of Demons" to find the Prayer Mat Demon’s weakness, the child vanished. Hu Zhu clapped her hands, praising his "skillful" demon-slaying.
Mei Zhuyu, having heard Shuang Jiang had ventured into the abandoned hall and fearing for his safety, rushed to the location. Upon entering, he found Wu Zhen standing in the corridor. Their eyes met. Wu Zhen raised an eyebrow, questioning him, but Mei Zhuyu's answers were evasive. He only admitted his own faults, carefully avoiding any mention of their past intimate encounter.
Wu Zhen, observing his troubled expression, mistakenly assumed he was worried about his career path and gently consoled him, advising him not to mind worldly opinions and to remain true to himself. These words warmed Mei Zhuyu’s usually distant heart. No sooner had she finished speaking than Shuang Jiang excitedly ran up to Mei Zhuyu, proudly gesturing about his supposed demon capture, his eyes brimming with self-satisfaction.
Mei Zhuyu, well aware of his junior brother's nature, promptly apologized to Wu Zhen and Hu Zhu for Shuang Jiang's recklessness, explaining his cousin's "deficiencies." He then pulled Shuang Jiang by his sleeve and hurried away. As they departed, Shuang Jiang continued to boast about his supposed prowess, claiming the demon was small but strong, and that he had nearly been hurt, but his agility saved him, further emphasizing his own skill.
Once the two had left, Wu Zhen returned to the ruined hall. Wu Zishu used his magic to trap the Prayer Mat Demon, demanding to know why it had gathered so many cats. The demon, initially resistant, gave in when Wu Zishu threatened to eat him. It explained that it was once a prayer mat in a bustling temple where many people came to pray.
But after a Guanyin Pavilion was built outside the city, the temple became deserted, leaving it terribly lonely. It had attracted the wild cats to keep it company, as it missed the feeling of being needed. Understanding its plight, Wu Zhen asked if it would be willing to relocate to the Beast Market, "a place where you'll be needed." The Prayer Mat Demon happily agreed. Mei Zhuyu sat alone in his room, meditating to steady his mind.
Shuang Jiang pushed the door open and immediately asked why people in Chang'an criticized Changxi Palace, labeling it fraudulent. Mei Zhuyu explained that Changxi Palace's century of seclusion left a loophole, allowing ill-intentioned individuals to exploit its name for deceit. He advised Shuang Jiang to act discreetly. However, Shuang Jiang was indignant, asserting that their sect was not fake and that he intended to clear its name through genuine skill.
He revealed that their Master had said Changxi Palace was driven out by Chang'an demons, not that they left voluntarily, and declared his intent to "take them down."
Mei Zhuyu cautioned him against impulsiveness, but Shuang Jiang expressed frustration that he could not claim credit for his demon-slaying, stating he had come down the mountain to be a hero, unlike Mei Zhuyu who did not care about fame, and reiterated his belief that people needed desires to live a vivid life.
Meanwhile, Wu Zishu meticulously prepared a special medicinal concoction, using a fumigation method to help Wu Zhen restore her demon power, assuring her she would soon become a full demon, despite Wu Zhen's complaints about the heat and smelling of ginseng. Wu Zishu even briefly closed the hot springs due to "violations of demon law" to ensure no interruptions. Soon after, Mei Zhuyu officially took over as Director of the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, fulfilling a long-held ambition.
Though the other officials offered surface-level congratulations, their eyes betrayed hidden scorn and a lack of faith in the new director. Former Director Xu Luan quietly packed his belongings. Despite his demotion to Prefect of Yongzhou, he showed no resentment, instead appearing relieved, acknowledging Mei Zhuyu's significant talent. Xu Luan then led Mei Zhuyu into a secret chamber where a map of Chang'an’s strange cases hung on the wall, marked with areas of lingering demonic energy.
He sighed, lamenting Chang'an's intricate complexities and how even the renowned Changxi Palace, which vanished a century ago, could not bring peace. He wondered how mere mortals could possibly defeat demons. Xu Luan clarified he wasn’t shirking responsibility but rather didn’t wish to see his colleagues senselessly lose their lives. Before departing, Xu Luan solemnly handed the map to Mei Zhuyu as a keepsake, admitting it was too heavy a burden for him now.
Later, at the start of the month, Mei Zhuyu entered the Record Pavilion to review old "Heavenly Fire" files, where he coincidentally encountered Empress Wu herself. Empress Wu introduced herself as the official in charge of the pavilion, playfully suggesting that such trivial case files were beneath a Director's personal investigation, all while subtly exerting her authority. Mei Zhuyu, undaunted, articulately and logically explained his reasons for being there, which impressed Empress Wu, causing her demeanor to soften.
Wu Zhen arrived upon hearing the news and felt a wave of relief seeing her elder sister nodding approvingly at Mei Zhuyu. As Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen were about to leave the palace, a palace maid's startled cry echoed through the air. In the backyard, white camellias appeared to be bleeding, their dew-kissed petals tinged with crimson droplets that fell into the lotus pond, staining the water an alarming, mottled red.
