Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Episode 27 Recap
> Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Recap
Wang Lu and Hai Yunfan argued fiercely over Hai Yunfan's unwavering belief that all demons, even benevolent ones or friends, must be eliminated. Hai Yunfan questioned Wang Lu, asking if he would kill him if he were a demon. Wang Lu parried, expressing hope that Hai was not a demon but refusing to answer a hypothetical. Hai Yunfan then voiced his deep disappointment in Wang Lu, having always believed Wang Lu possessed principles despite his usual jesting.
Wang Lu returned the sentiment, saying he thought the same of Hai Yunfan. The tension escalated as Wang Lu suggested Wen Bao accompany him to the Beastmastery Sect the following day, only for Hai Yunfan to insist Wen Bao stay with him at the Xue Mansion. Both tried to persuade Wen Bao, reminding him of past comradeship and offering different incentives. Wen Bao, caught in the middle, pleaded with them not to separate, visibly upset.
Later, Feng Ling found Wang Lu alone. She vented her frustration with the pretense and artificiality prevalent in the Xue Mansion, from the "hideous" pearl-laced dresses and "fragile and chatty" maids to the "revolting" opulent decorations and even her transformed self. She confessed that despite her strong desire to tear everything down, she endured it all because of Xue Boren.
Wang Lu playfully teased her, noting her shift from her usual "wooden block" persona and questioning what image she held of herself. He probed if she still suspected Xue Boren, which she denied, stating that while she understood Wang Lu's concern, she now fully trusted Xue Boren. She explained that Xue Boren had not drugged her, but she deeply felt his genuine affection.
She revealed that she often missed Lingjian Mountain, including its barren peak, the unappetizing radishes of Lingxi Town, Wang Wu’s shamelessness, and even her father’s feigned strength. When Wang Lu asked why she didn't return, she elaborated on her previous reluctance to live in the sect, explaining that her father's love, while real, was tinged with an uncomfortable carefulness, creating a subtle distance between them.
She expressed that only Wang Lu and Wang Wu treated her with a true "ordinary heart," unlike others who approached her differently because of her unique identity. She cherished Xue Boren's perspective, seeing her simply as an "ordinary girl" whom he adored and cared for without spoiling her. He encouraged her not to feign toughness or seek to please others by becoming someone she disliked, allowing her to feel truly at ease in his presence for the first time.
Wang Lu, still cautious, asked if she worried about Xue Boren's potential secrets. Feng Ling reaffirmed her trust in him, stating that even if he had secrets, her belief in his sincerity remained. She also confided that she had not yet informed her father, the Sect Leader, of her impending marriage, fearing his disapproval due to the Restriction within her.
However, she reassured Wang Lu that her father's protective "heart blood" remained potent, and she would immediately seek help at Lingjian Mountain if her inner Restriction showed any signs of trouble. Wang Lu jokingly promised to prevent the "bastard" within her from escaping, prompting Feng Ling to playfully call him a "little bastard" before chasing him. After his argument with Wang Lu, Hai Yunfan sought solitude, booking an entire teahouse.
His brief peace was interrupted by the arrival of Xue Boren's second and third brothers. The teahouse staff informed them the establishment was fully booked, and they opted to run errands. Sensing an opportunity, Hai Yunfan discreetly followed them. The Xue brothers soon realized they were being trailed and intentionally led him to a small forest, engaging in seemingly mundane conversation about wedding preparations, all while setting a trap. A confrontation ensued.
Hai Yunfan, attempting to conceal his identity, found himself at a disadvantage against the two brothers. Just as he was about to be overcome, Du Songzi of the Shengjing Sect intervened, defeating Xue Boren's second brother and forcing the siblings to flee. Du Songzi, recognizing Hai Yunfan as a fellow cultivator from Lingjian Sect, informed him that he had detected "evil spirits" on the Xue brothers, suggesting they were not ordinary humans.
He offered his assistance if Hai Yunfan needed help in demon eradication. Hai Yunfan, however, chose not to reveal the truth, instead fabricating a story about a prior market dispute and a personal vendetta, and departed after expressing his gratitude.
While Wang Lu was concerned, he repeatedly sent transmission runes to Wang Wu, expressing his worry about her long absence and playfully chiding her for not sending a wedding gift to Feng Ling, even hinting that Feng Ling's fiancé might be a wolf demon. He even asked her to bring the Sect Leader, noting Feng Ling's quiet desire for his presence. Wang Wu, receiving these lengthy messages, was annoyed by his lack of "manners."
Unbeknownst to Wang Lu, Wang Wu had been trapped for over ten days at Junhuang Mountain. She had proactively confronted Hai Tiankuo to demand answers about Ouyang Shang, but he seemed to deliberately misunderstand her intentions, seeing her visit as a challenge for a duel.
To gain access to his private chambers without direct confrontation, Wang Wu ingeniously deployed a paper substitute to engage Hai Tiankuo in a prolonged and theatrical "fight," while the real Wang Wu covertly sneaked into his mansion. During her search, she discovered a letter from Ouyang Shang to Hai Tiankuo, which spoke of Ouyang nearing the Nascent Soul stage and a prior agreement to "practice" with Hai Tiankuo to achieve "supreme power." Wang Wu was deeply perplexed by this revelation.
Suddenly, Hai Tiankuo abruptly ended his "fight" with the paper substitute and instantly teleported back to his room. Caught off guard, Wang Wu barely managed to hide herself within a large wine barrel. From her hiding spot, she overheard Hai Tiankuo discussing his secret investigation into Shengjing Sect and reviewing financial reports, dragging out his business for what seemed like hours, almost causing Wang Wu to reveal herself in frustration.
Once he finally left with his subordinate, Wang Wu emerged to find a note. Hai Tiankuo's message revealed he was fully aware of her presence in the barrel and had intentionally left the Iron Blood within to aid her in detoxifying the Liumang Poisonous Blood and advancing her Wuxiang Kungfu, even leaving a new set of clothes. Initially, this made Wang Wu ponder if she had misjudged Hai Tiankuo and if he was indeed Ouyang Shang's true friend.
However, her attempt to leave was met with a formidable barrier: the Matrix of Coiling, a powerful defensive array designed by Junhuang's founder, the Spider Immortal, which Hai Tiankuo had activated to keep her confined for her healing. A subordinate confirmed that the array was connected to the entire mountain's defenses, making escape impossible unless she could destroy the entire system. Wang Wu realized she was indeed strategically imprisoned.
After another failed attempt to contact Wang Wu, Wang Lu and Wen Bao anxiously awaited Hai Yunfan's return. When Hai Yunfan finally stumbled back, visibly injured, Wang Lu immediately dropped his pretense of nonchalance. He scolded Hai Yunfan for his recklessness, expressing his concern and threatening to confront whoever had harmed him. Hai Yunfan explained that he had tracked Xue Boren’s second and third brothers, who had feigned weakness previously, and found himself in a difficult fight after being discovered.
He admitted their cultivation was surprisingly formidable. Wang Lu criticized Hai Yunfan's solo mission, reminding him of the risks and their joint objective, especially concerning Feng Ling's safety. Hai Yunfan, however, was resolute in his mission to eliminate the "demons," stating it was his duty as a Lingjian disciple. Seeking to bridge their disagreement, Wang Lu proposed a compromise: they would visit the Beastmastery Sect at Yuntai Mountain the next day to investigate.
He reasoned that if the sect proved "clean," he would abandon his suspicions about Xue Boren, and they could then devise a new plan to deal with the Xue brothers. Hai Yunfan, though still wary, ultimately agreed, prompting Wang Lu to playfully instruct Wen Bao to let Hai Yunfan's injuries "feel the pain." The trio arrived at the Beastmastery Sect at Yuntai Mountain, where they were greeted by a disciple.
After being informed of their identity as Lingjian disciples, the sect's head, Zuo Xia, also known as Wosou, came out to welcome them. Wang Lu had correctly predicted his "sage-like and upright" demeanor, then quickly apologized for his earlier bluntness. Inside, Wang Lu feigned an interest in learning beast-taming techniques from their "Spirit Beast Academy," jokingly hoping to "show off" back at Lingjian Mountain.
Zuo Xia patiently explained the distinction between Spirit Beasts, which possess "spirit power" and can be tamed, and demons, which are formed from "various objects" and possess "evil spirits." He stressed that demons are inherently "destructive," "can’t be domesticated," and are "born evil," therefore a wolf demon would "definitely be harmful." Hai Yunfan, his convictions reinforced, inquired about the "wolf and fox demons" rumors in Jiyang and their suspected connection to the missing girls.
Zuo Xia recounted an old legend of a wolf and fox demon pair that committed many evils decades ago before mysteriously vanishing, and how the recent strange occurrences had led people to believe they had returned. Seizing an opportunity, Wang Lu feigned a sudden stomachache, humorously blaming it on too many greens, and excused himself to the "bathroom." He then secretly summoned Liang Qiu, his sword spirit, to discreetly survey the sect's grounds.
Liang Qiu, after a brief complaint about Wang Lu's attitude, reported her findings: the sect comprised nine courtyards, seventeen side halls, and fifty-nine rooms, but notably, a cave entrance at the back of the mountain was protected by an impenetrable barrier. Declining Liang Qiu's offer to break through it, Wang Lu stated his preference for handling difficulties himself and proceeded to investigate the mysterious cave alone.
