Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Episode 17 Recap
> Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Recap
Wang Lu and Wen Bao ventured to the blood donation site, intending to gain access to the Holy Girls. As Wen Bao worried that their fake chicken blood would clot before they could use it, Wang Lu confidently asserted he had a plan. Amidst the grumbling of the crowd, impatient with slow donors, Wang Lu theatrically stepped onto the platform.
After a grand declaration, he appeared to cut his wrist, discreetly using the chicken blood to impress the onlookers with his apparent sacrifice. This performance earned them a permit to enter the inner sanctum. Inside, Wang Lu quickly located Lan and called out her name. However, Lan claimed no recognition, insisting her name was Qianxun and accusing him of being a pervert.
Wang Lu persistently tried to trigger her memory, reminding her of their childhood in Wang Village, Wuhou Country, Dongdao Province, her brother Puppy, and even their childhood engagement. Despite his earnest efforts, Lan remained adamant that she knew nothing of these things and rang a warning bell. Mr. Zhou, recognizing Wang Lu from a previous encounter, swiftly appeared and ordered his men to seize him.
Meanwhile, Wen Bao, who had been nearby offering a Holy Girl a palm reading predicting a wealthy marriage, rushed to Wang Lu's defense. Wang Lu attempted to intimidate Mr. Zhou by invoking the power of the Lingjian Sect, but Mr. Zhou defiantly declared he was not afraid like Elder He and threatened to dismember Wang Lu and dispose of his body without a trace.
A fierce skirmish ensued, but Wang Lu and Wen Bao skillfully fought off their attackers and made their escape. Upon Wang Lu and Wen Bao's return, Liu Lixian greeted them cheerfully, sharing her chicken. Hai Yunfan, however, pulled Wang Lu aside, expressing deep concern about Liu Lixian's increasingly severe amnesia.
He recounted Liu Lixian's sudden, violent transformation when she stole chickens, exhibiting a murderous gaze and a surprisingly mature demeanor, only to revert to her innocent, childlike self moments later with no memory of the incident. Wang Lu, ever pragmatic, dismissed this as typical behavior for someone cultivating the "Sword Heart Enlightenment" method, which leaves one with a childlike mind, even jokingly comparing it to his own master's peculiar "teenage girl" persona despite her advanced age.
Wang Lu then confided in Hai Yunfan about Lan and the other Holy Girls, confirming they were brainwashed tools of the lustful Elder He. He instructed Hai Yunfan to diligently protect Liu Lixian, as her innocence would make her a prime target. Wang Lu then trailed the Holy Girls, discovering they were residing in the county magistrate's villa, confirming his suspicion that the Qianling Sect operated under official patronage.
Wen Bao suggested a direct assault on the villa to kill the corrupt official and capture Elder He. Wang Lu, however, rejected this idea as overly aggressive, arguing it would harm innocent servants and Holy Girls. He reminded Wen Bao of their "undercover agent," Lan, and expressed confidence that despite her current amnesia, she would eventually recall him, her "old flame," and seek him out. He revealed a bamboo flute, hinting at its role in their plan for the night.
That night, Wang Lu played a poignant tune on the bamboo flute, the very one Lan had once given to her brother, Puppy. Drawn by the familiar melody, Lan, who had been feeling increasingly uneasy in her room, ventured outside. Wen Bao, witnessing Lan's approach, marveled at Wang Lu's "charm." Lan recognized the flute but couldn't place it. Wang Lu gently reminded her it was a gift she made for Puppy.
A poignant flashback showed a younger Lan promising Puppy that she would always return to him upon hearing the flute's melody, sealing their vow with a pinky promise. Tears streamed down Lan's face as she finally remembered her brother and mother, asking about their welfare. Wang Lu reassured her they were safe under his father's care, and Lan expressed profound gratitude.
Prompted by Wen Bao, Lan recounted her abduction: Mr. Zhou had arrived in their village, and her mother had sent her to donate blood for Puppy. She was then lured into a private meeting with Mr. Zhou and woke up disoriented in Elder He's residence. She had attempted to escape but was quickly apprehended and forcibly administered a potent poison, which required a daily antidote to prevent a gruesome death by bleeding from seven orifices.
Enraged, Wang Lu vowed to make Elder He pay for his crimes and promised to take Lan home for a family reunion, entrusting her with the bamboo flute for safekeeping. Their conversation was abruptly cut short when guards discovered Lan's absence, forcing her to flee back into the villa. Wang Lu then proposed a "honey trap" as their next move.
After briefly considering Liu Lixian for the role, Wang Lu quickly dismissed her due to her unpredictable nature, arguing she would likely harm the target. Wang Lu then wistfully considered himself if the target were a woman. Finally, Hai Yunfan suggested Wang Wu, a suggestion that immediately excited Wang Lu. Meanwhile, back at Lingjian Mountain, Wang Wu was struggling with the Liumang Poisonous Blood coursing through her body.
She found it perplexing that her Wuxiang Kungfu, theoretically impervious to all poisons, was being suppressed. Even more puzzling, the poison seemed to be mending her existing internal injuries, leading her to question Hai Tiankuo's true motives. She also mused over Wang Lu's unexpected ability to wield Ouyang Shang's Kunshan Sword and earn Liang Qiu's approval, wondering if it was destiny or a veiled message. Wang Lu used a paper crane to contact her, pleading for assistance.
Wang Wu, though annoyed by the interruption, particularly given the instantaneous nature of paper crane communication that prevented her from ignoring it, was eventually swayed by Wang Lu's desperate pleas and flattery. Since she could not leave Lingjian Mountain, she sent a paper-person clone, identical to herself in appearance and mannerisms, to assist him. Upon its arrival, Wen Bao playfully attempted to "melt" the paper clone with water.
The clone initially feigned fear, then scolded him, reminding him that even as a paper creation, she was still an immortal and impervious to such weaknesses. Wang Lu then explained his "honey trap" plan. The Wang Wu clone initially expressed disdain for such a "low-class" mission, but Wang Lu showered her with compliments, declaring her the most beautiful woman in Kyushu and claiming men would faint at her sight.
After some feigned modesty and more sweet-talking from Wang Lu, the clone agreed to participate, but not without demanding a fee of two thousand spirit stones, half of which had to be paid upfront. Wang Lu protested, reminding her that she held all his funds, but she insisted on payment for her "labor." She then inquired about Elder He's preferred "type" of woman, to which Wang Lu confidently replied that her natural, peerless beauty was all the preparation needed.
Wang Lu and the Wang Wu clone then executed their honey trap. Wang Lu, disguised as a crude father named Wang Mazi, loudly proclaimed at the entrance of Elder He's mansion that he was selling his tearful daughter (the Wang Wu clone) due to gambling debts. A suspicious guard questioned Wang Lu's paternity, but Wang Lu cleverly deflected, feigning anger and threatening to sell Wang Wu to a brothel.
Mr. Zhou, drawn by the commotion and Wang Wu's striking beauty, quickly stepped in. He offered to purchase her, demanding the deed of sale from Wang Lu, who readily accepted the payment and departed. The Wang Wu clone then theatrically pledged her eternal gratitude and service to Mr. Zhou for "saving" her. Mr. Zhou brought her directly to his master's chambers, instructing her simply to "serve him well."
Inside, the Wang Wu clone mentally reminded herself that her actions were for the greater good of eliminating the evil cult, not for the two thousand spirit stones, insisting her soul remained pure. The Six Stars Envoy, revealed to be Elder He himself, approached her with intent. As he tried to caress her, the Wang Wu clone prepared to proceed, but Elder He abruptly stopped.
To her shock and fury, he declared his dissatisfaction with her "figure," deeming her too flat-chested for his taste, and immediately ordered his servants to throw her out. Wang Wu's clone, humiliated and fuming, reunited with Wang Lu. She angrily scolding him for the failed plan, but Wang Lu attempted to soothe her, explaining that Elder He simply had poor taste.
Wang Wu, still enraged, sarcastically suggested that the Innkeeper, Feng Ling, with her "girlish face and lack of figure," would have been Elder He's "perfect match." Wang Lu playfully offered to let Wang Wu fetch Feng Ling and keep the two thousand spirit stones, a proposition Wang Wu almost accepted before Wang Lu quickly backtracked with more flattery.
Wang Lu then revealed his new, audacious plan: he had found another candidate for the honey trap, and Wang Wu's role would simply be to intervene at the crucial moment to subdue Elder He. Though skeptical, Wang Wu was intrigued. To her astonishment, Wang Lu dramatically unveiled his new persona: he had cross-dressed himself as a stunning young woman. Wang Wu, momentarily speechless, complimented his beauty but cautioned him about the extreme "sacrifice" involved.
Wang Lu reassured her that he was "selling his art, not his body," and warned her that she must be ready to intervene immediately if Elder He made any untoward advances. With a confident flourish, Wang Lu set off towards the mansion in his new disguise.
