Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Episode 23 Recap
> Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Recap
Feng Ruche approached Xue Jingkong to bid him farewell, confessing that she had always yearned for something he was unwilling to give. She declared that from now on, all her joys and sorrows would be unrelated to him, and she would strive to forget him and move forward alone, perhaps even finding someone else to love. Xue Jingkong, feeling unworthy to stop her, merely wished her luck.
However, Feng Ruche retorted that she didn't need his good wishes, questioning why he had treated her so well if he considered relationships a burden. She reminded him of how he risked his life to save her with the staff and the keepsake he had secretly kept, emphasizing how hard she had worked to earn his affection and how much effort it would take for her to forget him, before tearing up the keepsake.
As Feng Ruche walked away, Xue Jingkong watched her leave with tears in his eyes. He used his spiritual power to magically reassemble the torn pieces of paper and loudly proclaimed that he would not allow her to forget him. He then appeared before Feng Ruche and kissed her. Their feelings finally aligned, and they walked hand-in-hand, confirming their affection for each other.
Feng Ruche, delighted, noted that the road was beautiful and expressed a wish for Xue Jingkong to smile more often, believing him to be very handsome. Unbeknownst to them, a subtle flower-like mark, identical to the one on Xue Jingkong's back, began to appear near Feng Ruche's ear. Meanwhile, Du Xianyin considered writing to Madam Xuan Ji to request a delay in Yun Muyang's execution.
Upon reflection, she realized that to secure Qi Zhenxian's allegiance, Madam Xuan Ji would not spare Yun Muyang unless he became the new Lord Silver Wings. Du Xianyin then met secretly with Qi Zhenxian, presenting him with a map.
She informed him that Madam Xuan Ji wished for him to withdraw his troops from Yan City to regroup and then launch an attack on Lin Chi, which was currently vulnerable due to its soldiers being redeployed to Qinghe Pass to quell a revolt by Yu Guo Cong. Qi Zhenxian, citing the heavy casualties and demotivated troops from the long battle in Yan City, greedily demanded 500,000 pearls as additional military funds.
Although inwardly displeased by his avarice, Du Xianyin outwardly agreed, pondering if he would even live to spend the money. Feng Ruche and Xue Jingkong were strolling through a market when the sky suddenly darkened, threatening rain. Xue Jingkong moved to buy two umbrellas, but Feng Ruche, seeking to draw closer to him, subtly suggested buying only one to save money. Misinterpreting her intent, Xue Jingkong assumed she was short on funds.
To accommodate her, he used his spiritual power to instantly clear the stormy sky, leaving Feng Ruche speechless and exasperated by his lack of romantic understanding. She turned and walked away, leaving a bewildered Xue Jingkong behind. The umbrella vendor, witnessing the exchange, pointed out that women often don't speak directly. Xue Jingkong then brought back the rain, opened an umbrella, and joined Feng Ruche, telling her he could learn to be more romantic.
From a distance, Lin Yuecong and Fang Qimo observed the couple, expressing their heartache and acknowledging the difficulty of moving on when their feelings for Xue Jingkong were unreciprocated. Later, by a lake, Feng Ruche and Xue Jingkong playfully contended over a book. The book accidentally fell into the water. Feng Ruche urged Xue Jingkong to retrieve it with his spiritual power, but to his surprise, he found his powers were faltering.
He tried again, only managing to pull out a fish. Concerned, Feng Ruche, worried he would overthink his weakening abilities, advised him not to try again. Qi Zhenxian received intelligence confirming Lin Chi was undefended and immediately decided to launch an attack through Luo Xia Forest. Yun Muyang expressed concerns, arguing that the army was still exhausted from the battle in Yan City and that Lin Chi was known for its strong defenses, suggesting the intelligence might be a trap.
Qi Zhenxian, however, dismissed his worries, determined to proceed. He reinstated Lian Yi as Deputy General, tasking her with leading the frontal assault, while Yun Muyang was assigned to lead a flanking maneuver. Feng Ruche, dressed in military uniform, came to bid farewell to Xue Jingkong, who was worried about her going to war and offered to accompany her.
However, Xue Jingkong also harbored concerns about his own weakening spiritual powers, noting his weak pulse and referencing a previous escape from an illusion at Linyuan Platform, which had affected him. Feng Ruche, however, insisted on fulfilling her mission herself and asked him to stay at the Wu Xiang Camp to protect the underground palace. Although Xue Jingkong agreed, he remained deeply concerned for her safety.
He gave her Qiankun bag, which he had filled with emergency medicines, emphasizing that the battlefield was perilous and the contents could save her life. Feng Ruche affectionately kissed him before leaving. As the army prepared to depart, Du Xianyin was injured by a poisonous Red Thorn, unique to Lin Chi, causing her to fall ill. Yun Muyang was deeply concerned and wanted to stay by her side.
He argued with Lian Yi, insisting that Lian Yi and Qi Zhenxian should depart first, and he would follow later with his troops. Lian Yi, however, urged him to prioritize the mission. Suspecting Du Xianyin's injury might be a ruse to keep Yun Muyang, Lian Yi tried to convince him to leave. Nevertheless, Yun Muyang remained steadfast in his belief that Du Xianyin was concerned for his safety. Unable to persuade him, Lian Yi departed with Qi Zhenxian's main force.
As Qi Zhenxian and Lian Yi’s forces moved through Luo Xia Forest, they were ambushed by enemy troops. Meanwhile, Du Xianyin regained consciousness. Seeing she was awake, Yun Muyang prepared to join Qi Zhenxian, but Du Xianyin, aware of the ambush, desperately tried to stop him from going into danger. Weakened by the poison, she could not physically restrain him. Yun Muyang, oblivious to her true intentions, instructed Zizhuan to care for her and rushed off.
Zizhuan, realizing that Du Xianyin had intentionally inflicted the deadly poison upon herself to keep Yun Muyang close, was deeply troubled by her reckless gamble with her own life. The Wu Xiang Camp, led by Feng Ruche, also advanced towards Lin Chi, intending to rendezvous with Yun Muyang's group. As they passed through a canyon, they were ambushed. In the ensuing chaos, Qin Fang was killed. The enemy troops from Yan City pressed their attack, intent on annihilating the Wu Xiang Camp.
