Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Episode 33 Recap
> Novoland: The Castle in the Sky 2 Recap
After Yun Muyang killed Yu Guo Cong, Feng Ruche confronted him. She inquired about the city's situation, which was stabilizing, then chastised Yun Muyang for his actions, highlighting that his killing of Yu Guo Cong was for personal revenge, not the nation's welfare. Feng Ruche reminded him that her orders were to dismantle Yu Guo Cong's secret network systematically, but he had acted alone, jeopardizing the people's safety.
Yun Muyang remained defiant, stating that a traitor had been killed and Feng Ruche could punish him as she wished. Feng Ruche declared that while disobeying military orders usually warranted beheading, she would spare his life due to his past contributions. She sentenced him to 100 beatings with a cane, stripped him of his title as General, and decreed that he would never be employed again. As Yun Muyang was led away, he defiantly challenged Feng Ruche to kill him.
Xu Yu sought out his former master, Jin Nian, to plead for Du Xianyin's life. Jin Nian, who was imprisoned, expressed surprise at Xu Yu's return. Xu Yu begged Jin Nian to save Du Xianyin, insisting that Jin Nian's limitless powers surely could revive her, even though she was dead. Jin Nian cunningly replied that if he could break his seal, Du Xianyin could indeed be brought back to life.
Xu Yu, eager to help, offered to work for Jin Nian again and even kill Fang Wuyi. Jin Nian dismissed Xu Yu as useless due to his depleted powers but then suggested that Xu Yu knew someone else who would be willing to work for him. Feng Ruche returned to the school, where she began to recall fragmented memories of Xue Jingkong.
These recollections included shared moments, conversations about pineapple tarts, and her declaration that she would marry him after conquering Nanyu City. She also remembered him giving her an ornament for their wedding. Upon finding a key for her bracelet and seeing Xue Jingkong approach her, she fully recovered her memories, including his name. Feng Ruche rushed to him, kissing him passionately. Xue Jingkong, trying to maintain his composure, gently pushed her away.
However, seeing her heartbroken expression, he embraced her tightly. As they held each other, Feng Ruche suddenly felt terrible, as if her energy was being drained, and she struggled to stay close to Xue Jingkong. He recognized that her body could not withstand the Flower Goddess's spiritual power and, distraught, pushed her away again, blaming himself. He declared that he shouldn't go near her and vowed to save her.
Just as Xue Jingkong prepared to sacrifice himself once more to save Feng Ruche, Xing Shangli appeared behind them. Xing Shangli assured them that neither of them had to die. He explained that he had returned to Stars Pavilion, found broken pieces of the Flower Goddess's pendant, and crafted a special piece of jade. This double pendant represented the Flower Goddess Shao Wu and her lover Pian Yu.
He claimed that combining them would appease the Flower Goddess, absorb the excessive power within Xue Jingkong, and halt the power transfer between him and Feng Ruche. Xue Jingkong anxiously asked when Feng Ruche would fully recover. However, to Xue Jingkong's horror, Xing Shangli suddenly stabbed himself with a knife, revealing that the jade's power could only be fully activated by sacrificing the crafter's life. This was the only way.
As he lay dying, Xing Shangli entrusted the Flower Goddess Jade to Xue Jingkong, urging him to wear it to ensure both their lives would be saved. He confessed that he knew this method all along but hadn't wanted to die, cherishing life with all its pleasures. He then declared Xue Jingkong the last hope of Stars Pavilion, unable to face his own masters in the afterlife if Xue Jingkong were to perish.
Xue Jingkong, devastated, accepted the responsibility, promising to take care of Stars Pavilion and urging Xing Shangli to rest in peace. Consumed by grief and alcohol, Yun Muyang became a mere shadow of his former self. Xu Yu appeared before him, and Yun Muyang, recognizing Xu Yu as the killer of his adoptive parents, immediately drew his sword to attack.
Xu Yu accepted the blow, stating he owed Yun Muyang this, but then asked for a favor: to help save Du Xianyin. Before Xu Yu died, he allowed Yun Muyang to dream of Du Xianyin, filling his mind with her cherished memories. Upon waking, Yun Muyang found himself in a cave, confronted by Xu Yu's master, Jin Nian, who introduced himself as an ancient god governing dreams and the only one capable of resurrecting Du Xianyin.
Yun Muyang initially refused to cooperate, recognizing Jin Nian as the ancient beast imprisoned at the Sinkhole of the Western Sea by Fang Wuyi, also known as Xue Jingkong, who had caused destruction in the world. Jin Nian, however, dismissed these concerns and used his dream powers to conjure an illusion of Du Xianyin, who pleaded with Yun Muyang to embrace a simple life with her and even have children.
Overwhelmed, Yun Muyang cried out to Jin Nian, demanding Du Xianyin be returned to him. Jin Nian then leveraged Yun Muyang's desire, promising to resurrect Du Xianyin and even his adoptive parents. He revealed that Xu Yu was a manifestation of his leaked power, thus absolving Yun Muyang from full blame for his parents' death.
To seal the deal, Jin Nian demanded that Yun Muyang kill Xue Jingkong within ten days; otherwise, Jin Nian's body would remain sealed in the Western Sea forever, and Yun Muyang's loved ones would remain as dry bones. Yun Muyang, desperate, agreed.
As preparations for Feng Ruche and Xue Jingkong's wedding began, Feng Ruche shared a light-hearted moment with Xue Jingkong, playfully demanding that she, as the Empress, should be the one to propose and that he merely needed to look pretty. Xue Jingkong agreed, finding her bossy but endearing. Meanwhile, Xue Jingkong sensed a renewed abnormality within himself.
He realized that while the Flower Goddess Jade could protect Feng Ruche, his own spiritual power was growing too rapidly for the jade to contain. He lamented that despite all their efforts, he was still inevitably heading towards death, unable to overcome the Flower Goddess. Around this time, rumors began circulating in the city: "The empress appears when the golden wings spread. The city of Nanyu falls when the Seven Stars fade."
Although her officials suggested suppressing the rumors and focusing on her wedding, Feng Ruche acknowledged that the first half of the prophecy had already come true and wondered if the second half, concerning the fall of Nanyu should the Seven Stars fade, also held truth. She was told that the Seven Star lamps in Novoland Hall, representing Novoland itself, would signify its downfall if they faded.
Despite the concerns, Feng Ruche resolved to uphold her duties and prepare for her wedding, believing that rumors dissipate before the wise. Later, Yun Muyang unexpectedly appeared before Feng Ruche while she was preparing for her wedding. He directly asked if she cared about Xue Jingkong's life, revealing that Xue Jingkong's Flower Goddess powers were still continuously growing.
Yun Muyang explained that Xue Jingkong had kept this hidden to spare her worry, but warned that Xue Jingkong would die once the Flower Goddess fully emerged. Feng Ruche was initially skeptical, remarking that she sensed nothing despite their closeness. Yun Muyang challenged her to investigate the truth for herself. Troubled by his words, Feng Ruche covertly observed Xue Jingkong and saw the distinct flower mark on his back, confirming Yun Muyang's alarming revelation and leaving her deeply distressed.
