Rattan Episode 23 Recap
> Rattan Recap
After a night of heavy drinking, Qin Fang woke up in bed feeling disoriented. He stumbled out to find Si Teng seated outside, who composed herself to greet him. Qin Fang's mind replayed Si Teng's kiss from the previous night, and his heart fluttered. Si Teng, with an uncharacteristic boldness, accepted Qin Fang's implicit affection, leaving both of them flushed. Qin Fang slowly knelt before her, taken aback by her sudden transformation. Qin Fang noticed Si Teng was watching "Titanic".
He tried to ask about her thoughts on the film, but Yan Furui unexpectedly returned. Qin Fang immediately confronted Yan Furui, demanding to know if he had been captured by Bai Ying, a widely held belief. Yan Furui vehemently denied it, asking why Bai Ying would capture him and asserting that he had not seen her. Si Teng, however, directly questioned his whereabouts. Meanwhile, Bai Jin awoke to find himself suspended in mid-air by vines.
A voice asked if he wished to live, to which he eagerly agreed. Bai Ying then materialized before him, having transformed into Si Teng's appearance, and introduced herself as Si Teng's biological sister. Bai Jin, surprised, expressed his unfamiliarity with such familial ties among the Yi, and mentioned Si Teng had never spoken of a sister. Bai Ying, to prove her identity, momentarily revealed her true nature, convincing Bai Jin, who then tried to ingratiate himself with her.
Yan Furui, attempting to explain his disappearance, fabricated a story about his friend Wang Qiankun calling him to say Bai Jin wished to meet Si Teng but had suddenly gone missing. Yan Furui claimed Wang Qiankun had then entrusted him to search for Bai Jin in Yuhang, a task he felt obliged to undertake as a member of the Xuan Sect. Qin Fang tried to smooth things over, but Si Teng fixed Yan Furui with a discerning gaze, clearly unconvinced.
Yan Furui, seizing an opportunity when Qin Fang went to get him food, swiftly escaped before Si Teng could act. Internally, he agonized over his difficult predicament, caught between lying and defying his master. Bai Jin, temporarily released, was compelled to answer Bai Ying's questions. Bai Ying wanted to know everything about the current state of the Xuan Sect and Si Teng. Bai Jin, attempting to buy time, asked Bai Ying about her origins.
This question triggered a violent outburst from Bai Ying, who began singing a mournful tune before mistaking Bai Jin for Shao Yankuan, her former lover. She accused him of betrayal and subjected him to a furious beating. Bai Jin desperately tried to correct her, emphasizing he was not Shao Yankuan, and swiftly redirected her back to the topic of Si Teng.
Still burdened by his deceit, Yan Furui sought Qin Fang's advice, presenting a hypothetical scenario: if his revered father wanted him to harm a close friend, what should he do? Qin Fang firmly stated he would never resort to such an act, emphasizing that a truly honorable person would not use insidious tricks. He advised Yan Furui that if the animosity was not his own, he should not collude with evil at the expense of his friend.
Qin Fang confirmed he had contacted friends in Yuhang to search for Bai Jin, who indeed had been there but was now unreachable. Although Qin Fang admitted Yan Furui had been acting peculiar lately, he trusted that Yan Furui would not behave deceitfully like Shao Yankuan, who had pretended to love Bai Ying while secretly conspiring with Qiu Shan to destroy her.
Elsewhere, Qiu Shan recalled his master's teachings and Xingyun Pavilion's long-standing dream of gaining recognition from the Xuan Sect. He remembered his love for an Yi woman named Changsheng and the profound betrayal he suffered at her hands, which led to her killing his entire sect and solidified his resolve to eliminate all Yi. Meanwhile, Yan Furui, increasingly troubled by the escalating conflict, decided he needed to speak with his master and prevent further animosity.
Yan Furui eventually found Qiu Shan on a street corner. He earnestly pleaded with his master to abandon his deep-seated hatred for the Yi, arguing that they were not inherently evil and pointing out that Si Teng had never harmed anyone. Qiu Shan, however, adamantly refused, believing that Yi were fundamentally different and untrustworthy, asserting, "Those who are not our kind won't share our views," and even suggesting they are "from outer space."
Upon hearing Yan Furui defend Si Teng, Qiu Shan's eyes sharpened, and his weapon reacted. At that moment, Si Teng, who had followed Yan Furui, appeared. Qiu Shan immediately lunged at her, and a fierce battle ensued. Yan Furui rushed between them, desperately trying to prevent bloodshed. Si Teng angrily confronted Qiu Shan about the inhumane treatment she had endured in the past.
Qiu Shan attributed it solely to her nature as an Yi, reiterating his regret for her existence and calling her an "indelible stain" on his life. He recounted his past experience of betrayal and humiliation by an Yi, insisting that all Yi were treacherous and heartless. As Si Teng prepared to strike Qiu Shan, Yan Furui frantically implored her to spare his master.
Si Teng paused, asking Qiu Shan one final question: had he ever shown her even a sliver of mercy? Qiu Shan remained silent, offering no affirmation. Despite the years of abuse and insults, Si Teng acknowledged Qiu Shan's role in bringing her into this world and raising her. She then declared that Qiu Shan, not the Yi, was the truly heartless one who broke promises. With a profound statement, Si Teng chose to spare him that day.
A defeated expression crossed Qiu Shan's face. Yan Furui tried to persuade him to return to Mt. Cangcheng with him, but Qiu Shan refused, sternly warning Yan Furui not to become entangled in these affairs. He then re-sheathed his weapon and staggered away, leaving Yan Furui in anguish. Unbeknownst to Yan Furui, a memory flashed through Qiu Shan's mind: his first encounter with the young Si Teng, freshly awakened.
He had expressed surprise that she didn't smile, wondering if she was afraid, and had then left her alone. This brief glimpse revealed a hint of his conflicted feelings, despite the abuse he inflicted. Witnessing Si Teng's continued silence after the confrontation, Qin Fang gently suggested they go for a walk to lift her spirits. Hand in hand, they strolled through their garden and beyond, finding solace in each other's company.
Meanwhile, Bai Jin spent the entire day explaining Si Teng's history and the current state of the Xuan Sect to Bai Ying. He tried to persuade Bai Ying that the modern world had changed drastically, even suggesting that Xuan Sect now resembled an "alien research institute" focused on understanding and peaceful coexistence with Yi. Bai Jin urged Bai Ying to adapt to contemporary life, just as Si Teng had readily embraced and enjoyed it.
Bai Ying, however, believed Si Teng's transformation was solely due to Qin Fang's influence. Jaded by her own past romantic betrayal, she distrusted all men and cynically predicted that Si Teng would eventually suffer the same heartbreak. Bai Ying rejected Bai Jin's optimistic views, once again descending into madness. She repeatedly mistook Bai Jin for Si Teng and then for Shao Yankuan, accusing him of infidelity and recalling her past threats of eternal confinement for betrayers.
Bai Jin desperately tried to reason with her, reminding her that human hearts are unpredictable and advising her to let go if love was unrequited. Bai Ying, consumed by her bitterness, concluded that love was nothing but a "hoax" for the Yi. Despite Bai Jin's desperate attempts to stop her, she declared her intent to "eliminate Si Teng's obstacle." Bai Ying later observed Si Teng and Qin Fang from the shadows, their radiant smiles piercing her heart.
When Qin Fang briefly left Si Teng, Bai Ying seized the opportunity, transforming herself to look exactly like Si Teng and luring Qin Fang to a secluded spot. Qin Fang, cheerful and unsuspecting, was lured by "Si Teng" to a secluded spot. He arrived with a large bundle of balloons, teasing "Si Teng" about having bought too many. " Si Teng," however, dismissed his playfulness.
As they looked down at the busy people below, Qin Fang expressed his heartfelt desire to share a life with her. Her cold and uncharacteristic response, "I don't care about these," immediately shattered his illusion. With a sudden realization, Qin Fang declared, "You're not Si Teng!" Before he could react further, Bai Ying revealed her true form and ensnared him with vines, leaving him suspended helplessly in the air.
