Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Episode 15 Recap
> Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Recap
Feng Ling, preparing for her solo journey down the mountain for practice, said goodbye to her father, the leader of Lingjian Sect. She urged him not to cry, reminding him she was merely going for practice, not a funeral. He expressed his reluctance for her to suffer and entrusted his inn to her care, to which Feng Ling playfully retorted that his old age made him more suited for charity than running a business.
Feng Ling then turned to Wang Wu, asking her to look after Wang Lu, praising his talent and character, and urging her to teach him well. Wang Wu, however, complained about Feng Ling's decision to leave despite her thirty-year plan for the inn, questioning the ambition of modern young women. Wang Lu, Hai Yunfan, and Wen Bao arrived to see Feng Ling off.
Wen Bao offered her pastries from the royal kitchen of Canglan, apologizing for having always freeloaded at her inn. Hai Yunfan presented her with a teleportation charm for self-defense. Feng Ling then shared a profound thought with Hai Yunfan, emphasizing that true evil lies not in demons but in one's heart, and a good heart makes even a demon benevolent. When Wang Lu approached empty-handed, Feng Ling chided him.
He claimed to have given her the one thing she lacked but desired most – a "fruit" (implying trouble or a challenge). Feng Ling, amused, threatened to beat him, and Wang Lu promised to return someday to beat her severely enough to help her reach the Gold Core stage.
As she departed, Feng Ling advised Wang Lu to be obedient to Wang Wu and not cause trouble, ironically calling Wang Wu the "shame of Lingjian Mountain" and a great trouble herself. After Feng Ling's departure, Wang Lu, Hai Yunfan, and Wen Bao approached Wang Wu, attempting to get her to stamp a paper, hinting at revealing secrets in return.
Wang Wu surprised them by revealing she had already registered them for the practice, and for a four-person team, refusing to disclose the fourth member. She told Wang Lu to approach the leader if he wished to change the arrangement, but Wang Lu realized that the heartbroken leader would be unapproachable, and attempting to change anything would result in dire consequences for both him and Wang Wu. Meanwhile, Wang Lu was struggling to control the Kunshan Sword's spirit, Liang Qiu.
He tried to command her, but she mocked his "sorcerer's dance" as an insult to the sword. Wang Lu threatened to melt her, calling her a "little sword spirit," but Liang Qiu, in her sword form, overpowered him. Wang Lu humbly apologized to "Miss Liang Qiu," acknowledging her as the "boss." Wang Wu appeared and chided Wang Lu for being subdued, reminding him she had warned him about keeping Liang Qiu's memories.
Wang Lu complained about the pain, to which Wang Wu playfully suggested he use his glib tongue to praise the sword spirit. Wang Lu retorted by suggesting scolding Wang Wu would be more effective, which earned him a playful flick from his master. Suddenly, a bell rang. Wang Lu jokingly asked if the leader had passed away, but Wang Wu clarified it was the mobilization meeting for the upcoming mountain practice.
Wang Wu then promised Wang Lu a "big surprise" at the meeting. Wang Lu arrived late, drawing a stern rebuke from Elder Fang He, who informed all disciples that the Lingjian Sect, aiming to strengthen its talent and comprehensive abilities, was sending them to the mortal world for a one-year practice. Upon their return, they were required to submit a 5,000-word report on "the relations between the immortal and human worlds," which would directly impact their final evaluation.
This proposal, he explained, had been put forth by the leader and approved by the masters. During the announcement of the groups, Wang Lu muttered about the Lingjian Sect creating trouble due to its long period of peace. Elder Fang He then announced the third group: Wang Lu, Hai Yunfan, Wen Bao, and unexpectedly, Liu Li Xian. Wang Lu was horrified, calling Liu Li Xian a "living volcano" and believing Wang Wu was intentionally sabotaging him.
Wang Wu appeared, feigning innocence and asking if he was surprised. She boasted about arranging for two true successor disciples to be in one group, attributing it to Liu Li Xian's master, Ao Guanhai, being easily manipulated. Wang Lu jokingly threatened to expose her to Liang Qiu unless she returned the sword. Wang Wu then offered to teach Wang Lu the Unfailing Sword Art, noting his recent breakthrough to the ninth level of the Unfailing Sword Bone.
When Wang Lu complained it was too late, Wang Wu presented him with two options: the "great perseverance" type or the "great intelligence" type. Wang Lu, suspecting a trap for a prolonged, arduous practice, chose "great intelligence." Wang Wu warned him it might be even more challenging. Upon opening the manual, Wang Lu discovered it was completely blank. Feeling tricked, he questioned the point of becoming her disciple.
Wang Wu explained that "great intelligence" meant he had to forge his own unique sword art through real-world combat, a path she herself had followed. She emphasized that there were no shortcuts to true mastery. Understanding her intent, Wang Lu accepted the challenge. Wang Wu encouraged him to pack his belongings, including the Kunshan Sword and the blank manual, and set off for his practice.
After she left, Wang Lu checked the "great perseverance" manual, finding it also blank, confirming he had been completely outwitted. Wang Lu's team received their mission: to eliminate the remnants of the Qianling Sect. Wen Bao expressed excitement, and Wang Lu confirmed it was the same heresy whose branch Wang Wu had previously destroyed, noting their continued conflict with the sect.
Wang Lu jokingly declared he would "fulfill Wang Wu's last wish," prompting Wang Wu to appear, scolding him for such morbid talk. She then added a crucial life lesson to their mission: they must "cut off worldly ties." Wang Wu explained that cultivators, with their extended lifespans, would inevitably outlive their mortal loved ones. This, she said, was their destiny and a crucial trial. She advised them to visit their parents before embarking on their journey.
Liu Li Xian's home was Lingjian Mountain itself, so she had no need to return. Wen Bao's home in Canglan was too distant and outside the designated practice area. Hai Yunfan sadly revealed his parents were deceased, leaving him with no earthly home. Wang Lu then suggested they all travel to his home, Wang Mansion, in Wang Village, located in Wuhou County, Dongdao Province, Cangxi State, Ming, promising them the famous local open-air banquet.
As they approached Wang Village, Hai Yunfan, using his Qi inspection technique, noticed the nimbus over the village was a withered yellow, unlike the healthy green surrounding areas. He hypothesized three causes for such abnormal spiritual energy: natural disaster (ruled out due to lush vegetation), the death of a great man (which Wang Lu immediately dismissed by declaring himself the "great man"), or demonic activity. They concluded it must be the work of demons.
Wang Lu, confident, boasted about dealing with any demons and serving them as a "full formal banquet" to Liu Li Xian's delight. Upon entering the village, Wang Lu was surprised to find the locals shying away, whispering about him being a "heresy," which he misinterpreted as them being shy due to his handsomeness.
A young boy, Puppy, ran to greet Wang Lu but was quickly pulled away by his mother, who scolded him, mentioning his sister, Lan, had been "spirited off" – a worrying detail Wang Lu noted. Another villager, Aunt Liu, showed Wang Lu a bottle of "holy water" given by a "fairy," claiming it could cure all illnesses, expressing surprise that he, a cultivator, hadn't seen it before.
Wang Lu approached the Village Chief, who greeted him warmly, unlike the other villagers. Wang Lu introduced his companions, then asked the chief about the villagers' strange, unwelcoming behavior. The chief invited them to his home, explaining that much had changed since Wang Lu left. He revealed that "immortals" and a "Holy Girl" had arrived in the village, periodically "delivering" those with affinity.
He confirmed the villagers' avoidance of Wang Lu stemmed from a belief that he had "fallen into a wrong path." The chief enthusiastically described how the Holy Girl's sacred water could cultivate a "magic root" in forty-nine days, granting "immortal cause," and also possessed potent healing properties. Wang Lu immediately recognized the "holy water" as the false spiritual item they were tasked to eradicate.
The chief then listed the wealthy villagers who had supposedly been "delivered" and gained "immortal cause" by the Holy Girl, including Wang Xiaohu, Wang Dafu, Wang Tiezhu, Wang Laogen, and Wang Shanyao. Wang Lu cynically observed the pattern, remarking that "immortal cause" seemed directly proportional to one's wealth. The chief, however, staunchly defended the Qianling Sect, claiming it followed an "orthodox immortal way" and had no interest in worldly riches. Wang Lu then inquired about his own father, Wang Fugui.
The chief explained that Wang Fugui initially lacked "immortal cause" but was "rescued" by Wang Xiaohu, prompting the Holy Girl's reluctant agreement. However, as a sign of sincerity, Wang Fugui was expected to build a grand new yard for the Holy Girl at the village entrance, costing a staggering 700,000 to 800,000 taels. Wang Lu scoffed, calling it outright robbery.
The chief assured him that building the yard would guarantee both Wang Lu and his father would be chosen by the Holy Girl next time. Wang Lu then learned that a "two-star Ambassador" of Qianling Sect named Mr. Zhou had been living in the village for two years, preaching magic, with Wang Xiaohu as his assistant.
Hai Yunfan confirmed their earlier suspicion of demonic activity was indeed the Qianling Sect taking root, much to Liu Li Xian's excitement about combining their mission with feasting. Wang Lu, concerned for his father's wealth, decided to confront the Qianling Sect members alone, instructing his companions to wait at the chief's house. He dismissed Hai Yunfan's warning about being framed, confident that his long-standing relationship with the villagers would outweigh Mr. Zhou's two-year presence.
He rushed home to prevent his family's assets from being squandered. Upon arriving, Wang Lu found Mr. Zhou pressuring his father, Wang Fugui, for one million taels for the new yard. Wang Fugui protested, stating he was a small merchant with no such funds, only wishing to save for Wang Lu's marriage and his own peaceful retirement, and thus wished to abandon the idea of immortality.
Mr. Zhou, aided by the villagers, pressured Wang Fugui, arguing that the yard was for the benefit of the entire village, citing Puppy's "magic root" as proof. Wang Tiezhu even offered 100,000 taels to further sway Wang Fugui. Overwhelmed, Wang Fugui was about to give in when Wang Lu burst in, condemning Mr. Zhou's actions. He reminded Mr. Zhou that Wang Wu had already destroyed a Qianling Sect branch and insulted the sect directly, calling it "dog shit."
Mr. Zhou's assistant questioned his audacity, and Mr. Zhou himself feigned indignation, accusing Wang Lu of insulting their sect and terrifying the villagers without cause. Wang Lu countered that the Lingjian Sect did not need reason to eradicate a heresy. He then publicly denounced the Qianling Sect as the "number one heresy in Cangxi State," accusing them of colluding with officials, defrauding common people, and causing widespread harm.
Mr. Zhou challenged Wang Lu by asking the villagers if he had ever cheated them. The villagers, swayed by Mr. Zhou's influence, vehemently denied it and expressed their unwavering support for him. Wang Lu dismissed their response as nonsense, arguing that the Qianling Sect's claim that "everyone can become immortal" proved their "low-grade" nature, questioning who would be ordinary if everyone was an immortal.
Mr. Zhou responded with a lengthy, elaborate explanation about the fairness of heaven, the hidden potential in everyone, and the Holy Girl's invention of the "holy water" to cultivate "magic root," thus opening the path to immortality for all. Wang Lu pressed him on the cost, to which Mr. Zhou replied it was for "sincerity."
Wang Lu retorted that true cultivation sects sought out talented disciples and provided resources without charge, and exposed the "holy water" as worthless concoctions sold for exorbitant sums, revealing the true nature of their fraud. The villagers, listening intently, began to waver, murmuring agreement with Wang Lu.
Seeing his influence diminish, Mr. Zhou, enraged, launched a hidden weapon, a "Penetrating Nail," at Wang Lu, gloating that the powerful, poison-tipped nail would kill him instantly for daring to oppose the Qianling Sect, despite his youth and cultivation. Meanwhile, Liu Li Xian, still at the chief's house, asked about Wang Lu's return, just as the chief exclaimed in fear, seeing the "wrath of heaven" (the nail's impact). To Mr. Zhou's shock, the nail failed to harm Wang Lu.
Mr. Zhou, reeling, explained its lethal potency, concluding that Wang Lu, by surviving the poison, must be a "demon." The terrified villagers echoed "demon," while Wang Fugui, bewildered, insisted his son could not be one. Wang Lu, observing the situation, acknowledged that Hai Yunfan's earlier warning about being framed had come true. The villagers, simple-minded and easily swayed by promises of immortality, were terrified by Wang Lu's fearless confrontation and readily believed Mr. Zhou's accusation that he was a great demon.
