Rakshasa Street Episode 16 Recap
> Rakshasa Street Recap
Bai Jingxuan informed Cao Yanbing that the people currently with them were the true inhabitants of Mingjing village. He revealed that the villagers Cao Yanbing had encountered previously were actually from the human world. Cao Yanbing mentioned his earlier suspicion, triggered by a BCG vaccination mark he observed on a young girl in the village, a vaccine exclusively used in the human world to combat tuberculosis.
Bai Jingxuan confirmed Cao Yanbing's insight, elaborating that aside from Messengers, very few humans could survive in the spiritual domain. Those who did either adapted slowly to become Spirit Man or quickly transformed into heteromorphic beings, a process the Mingjing villagers did not undergo.
The truth, Bai Jingxuan explained, was that these humans were forcibly brought from the human world to the spiritual domain as experimental subjects, as Royal father sought to discover how humans could endure the spiritual domain's harsh environment. He detailed how the spiritual domain constantly harmed human bodies, and Royal father's research focused on instant cell regeneration to counter this. This method, however, didn't strengthen cell structure but accelerated cell division, effectively consuming their future lifespans.
Bai Jingxuan tragically revealed that the former Mingjing villagers were all experimental subjects nearing death. The pervasive legend of "Demons" both inside and outside the village was a deliberate fabrication, designed to prevent the secret of the experiments from being exposed by keeping outsiders away and confining the villagers. When Cao Yanbing inquired about the "Demons" who left five years ago, Bai Jingxuan stated that most had died.
The survivors were the very humans now before them, the initial test subjects from whom Royal father developed drugs for human cell regeneration, allowing them to exist in the spiritual domain. Royal father then brainwashed them, making them believe they were native Mingjing villagers who had lost their memories due to illness. Cao Yanbing then questioned if the "original" Mingjing villagers had also been human and lived there for generations.
Bai Jingxuan affirmed their humanity and then, to Cao Yanbing's astonishment, disclosed that they were all Messengers. Bai Jingxuan also indicated the silent old man in a wheelchair was the Elder of Mingjing village and that the other silent villagers could not speak because if they were permitted to live, they would never be given another chance to reveal the truth.
Bai Jingxuan confessed that he too was a resident of Mingjing village, and with his own time running out, he felt compelled to reveal everything. Meanwhile, Royal father contacted Northern Division via phone, informing him that Cao Yanbing had raided the armour camp, killed Bao dading, and stolen the Divine Calculator Heavenly Book. Northern Division was shocked by the news.
They stepped outside to continue their conversation, where Royal father speculated that Cao Yanbing was likely awaiting the Bodhi tree's Qiming. He instructed Northern Division to ensure the girl, Xia Ling, was sent back to the human world and to keep a close watch on Cao Yanbing to protect the Bodhi tree. Royal father expressed regret over allowing Cao Yanbing to leave Mingjing village previously, asserting that he would not be permitted entry again.
Northern Division, for the sake of the Wu Shang Guo, pledged to fight to the death. Bai Jingxuan began recounting the story, starting five years ago when Mingjing village was not known as a place of Demons but a sacred land capable of purifying them. He spoke of his regret, feeling like he had "saved a viper only to be bitten."
He then detailed the village's ancestral rules: the miraculous Bodhi tree could cure numerous diseases, but all village matters were to remain secret. Any outsider seeking healing had to be questioned at the Mirror Platform to ascertain their true intentions and identity, including whether they were a treacherous person, and then have their memories erased after successful treatment. This tradition had been upheld for over 1600 years. A flashback showed a severely wounded Royal father being brought to Mingjing village.
The Elder assessed his injuries, noting damage to all his internal organs, severe qi and blood deficiency, poison in his heart and brain, and a fatal abdominal wound. The Elder's assistants reminded him of the ancestral mandate to question patients at the Mirror Platform and erase their memories. However, given Royal father's critical condition, "half a foot in the coffin," forcibly performing the 'Open your brain' procedure would undoubtedly kill him.
Driven by compassion, the Elder chose to save Royal father first, placing him directly under the Bodhi tree, bypassing the usual memory-erasure ritual. Royal father soon regained consciousness and asked if they had saved him. Bai Jingxuan introduced the Elder, who asked Royal father to truthfully state his identity, the cause of his injuries, and if he was being pursued.
Royal father introduced himself as a commander of the Lingjia army, explaining he sustained his wounds while venturing alone to pursue bandits. He mentioned hearing from his subordinates that Mingjing village offered his only hope, aware that those treated there typically lost their memories. The Elder confirmed this was due to ancestral rules but reiterated that an exception was made due to his life-threatening state.
Royal father expressed his profound gratitude, though the Elder stated no repayment was needed, only adherence to the secrecy of Mingjing village matters. The Elder instructed Royal father to sit under the Bodhi tree for two hours daily for ten days to completely heal the lingering damage in his internal organs, as the tree's fragrance was known to calm the mind and dispel ill luck. Royal father complied, diligently sitting under the Bodhi tree each day.
During this time, Bai Jingxuan played his zither. Royal father recognized the tune as "High mountains and flowing water" and praised Bai Jingxuan's exceptional skill, comparing him favorably to the ancient master Boya. Bai Jingxuan inquired about Royal father's recovery, to which Royal father responded that he felt "relaxed and happy," as if all ill luck had vanished, describing the Bodhi tree as divine. Bai Jingxuan attributed this blessing to their ancestors selecting such a sacred place.
When Royal father asked his name, Bai Jingxuan introduced himself and his brother, Bai Jingying, explaining that all Mingjing villagers shared the surname Bai. Royal father recounted how outsiders perceived Mingjing village as a "secret land" inhabited by "immortals," but Bai Jingxuan clarified they were merely self-sufficient fishermen. Royal father lauded the Elder's medical prowess, suggesting he could be a legendary physician if he practiced openly.
He also observed the peaceful and harmonious life in Mingjing village, starkly different from the outside world. Bai Jingxuan expressed a deep longing to experience the outside world, having lived his entire life within the village. Royal father encouraged him, but Bai Jingxuan regretfully mentioned the ancestral rule prohibiting villagers from leaving. Royal father lamented this, describing the outside world as "very beautiful."
From that point on, Bai Jingxuan recalled, Royal father would tell him daily stories about the outside world and the events of the past 1600 years, captivating him with tales of both wonder and sorrowful lives. After ten days, the Elder informed Royal father that his time was complete, his internal injuries were healed, and it was time for him to depart the village. Royal father acknowledged this, expressing his renewed gratitude to the Elder, who credited the Bodhi tree.
The Elder then instructed Bai Jingxuan to erase Royal father's memory and escort him out of the village. As Bai Jingxuan approached, Royal father looked at him and said, "Jingxuan, I really don't want to forget you. Jingxuan, goodbye. Don't forget me." Bai Jingxuan, in the present, admitted that he did not fully erase Royal father's memory because of this heartfelt plea. Bai Jingxuan and his brother escorted Royal father to the village exit.
Bai Jingxuan then sent his brother back, stating he wished to play one last song for Royal father. As Bai Jingxuan played his zither, Royal father unexpectedly returned. " Jingxuan, come with me," he urged, "I'll take you to see the outside world." Reflecting on this fateful decision, Bai Jingxuan confessed that he had never anticipated Royal father would ask him to leave with him. He concluded, "A great disaster was thus brought about."
Bai Jingxuan later learned that Royal father intended to exploit Messengers to develop drugs enabling humans to survive in the spiritual domain, all to further a grander conspiracy. Bai Jingxuan implored Cao Yanbing to defeat Royal father and restore Mingjing village, referring to it as Ning Jingcun, its tranquil state.
