Shadow Love Episode 3 Recap
> Shadow Love Recap
Jin'an awoke to find Li Shuang diligently by his side, realizing that her earlier actions concerning Li Ting were not to harm him, but rather to save him with utmost certainty. He also deduced that her late-night wakefulness stemmed from her concern for Li Ting. Li Shuang revealed her reasons for bringing Jin'an back, sharing that she, like him, had been a displaced orphan in her youth until Grand General Li Wei took her in.
Their sibling bond, she admitted, was superficial. She further explained that Li Wei had taught her not to over-explain her words or deeds, as people often only care about results, and that rescuing Li Ting was her sole priority. Jin'an, observing her deep care for Li Ting despite his misunderstanding, asked if she felt wronged.
Li Shuang contrasted their personalities, noting that while both were adopted, Jin'an was bold, whereas she had to be cautious and couldn't afford to feel sorry for herself. She then instructed Jin'an, who was still recovering and feeling shy, to share her bed for the night. Meanwhile, a guard in the Changfeng Army camp was mysteriously killed, allowing Jin Wujian to infiltrate, disguised as a soldier. Later that night, Jin'an, while asleep, suddenly transformed into an adult.
Li Shuang, startled, confronted him with a drawn sword, demanding his identity. Jin'an desperately tried to convince her that he was still Jin'an, even pointing to his clothes. Li Shuang threatened him, warning against any improper behavior, but Jin'an insisted that if an intruder had truly entered, she, as a general, would have known.
He further tried to prove his identity by offering to show his pants, but Li Shuang curtly told him to cover up, still demanding an explanation for his transformation, which Jin'an claimed not to know. Just then, a subordinate called for Li Shuang. She quickly silenced Jin'an, threatening him with severe punishment if anyone discovered an unclothed man in her room, and he quickly hid under the covers.
As Li Shuang opened her tent, Jin Wujian, calling her "Jade Linglong," launched a surprise attack with his controlled soldiers, seemingly targeting her. Jin'an attempted to intervene but found himself inexplicably devoid of strength, leaving him vulnerable to capture. He was nearly abducted. During the skirmish, someone instructed Li Shuang to strike the attackers' foreheads. Shortly after, a silver needle was inadvertently pulled from Jin'an's head, which saved him.
Outside, the soldiers speculated that someone was using strange, manipulative methods, possibly to rescue Huo Du, and noted the suspicious, unclothed man in Li Shuang's tent. Li Shuang, understanding the gravity of the situation, ordered Deputy General Luo to take the controlled soldiers to Lu Xin's clinic, to fortify the camp, and to keep Huo Du under even tighter surveillance. Returning to her room, Li Shuang angrily confronted Jin'an, who lamented his newfound weakness, claiming it made him harmless.
She questioned how he knew to target the soldiers' foreheads, and he explained seeing a strange needle in the back of their heads. They both realized the attackers had specifically targeted Jin'an, seeking to capture him without causing harm, which struck them as peculiar. Jin'an then recalled a flash of memory from his escape, hinting at a stone chamber, which he believed was near where Li Shuang found him.
Li Shuang declared her intention to take him to search for his origin, vowing to show no mercy if he proved to be suspicious. Jin'an, accepting his fate, told her she could reclaim his life at any time. Unbeknownst to them, Jin Wujian discovered Li Shuang was taking Jin'an into the Barren Forest and had already set up a trap. Along their journey into the forest, Jin'an complained about the bumpy ride.
Li Shuang, noting recently broken branches, deduced that Jin'an might have been in his adult form when he first fled through there. Upon reaching a secret tunnel entrance, Jin'an felt a strong sense of familiarity. Li Shuang, opting to investigate, split her troops, sending Ji Ran with one group while she and Jin'an entered the tunnel. During this time, Huo Du was rescued from the Changfeng Army camp, prompting Li Ting to pursue him.
Inside the cave, Jin'an and Li Shuang discovered evidence of a fierce battle. Suddenly, a strange female corpse, seemingly reanimated, abducted Jin'an. Ji Ran and his men, hearing the commotion, rushed in as Li Shuang gave chase. Jin'an, regaining his strength, managed to kill the female corpse. Meanwhile, Li Ting, in his pursuit of Huo Du, was captured by him, a sight Jin'an witnessed. As Li Shuang arrived, Huo Du threatened her with Li Ting's life, demanding his freedom.
Jin'an, using his last reserves of power, killed Huo Du. Li Shuang decided to secretly send Jin'an to the General's Residence. In Lucheng, Li Shuang arrived at the General's Residence, where she had Jin'an secretly placed in a side room and instructed her officers to reinforce security, ensuring no word of his presence leaked out. Lu Xin was already tending to Jin'an.
Upon seeing him, Lu Xin, intrigued by his many injuries yet agile movements, questioned his identity and expressed her astonishment at his transformation from a child, eagerly asking him to demonstrate it. Jin'an, distressed, lamented that his extraordinary strength and heightened senses had vanished again, questioning why this was happening to him. Lu Xin, dismissively telling him it was "none of his business," urged him to first drink a tonic to strengthen his body, asserting her authority as his physician.
Jin'an then inquired about Li Shuang's well-being. Lu Xin, in turn, challenged him to focus on his own strange condition and the mystery of his past. With a confident air, Lu Xin, who claimed to be the best physician in Lucheng, assured Jin'an that she could cure him, promising to treat his strange illness slowly after he consumed his tonic. Shortly after, Li Ting woke up, appearing unrepentant and suggesting Li Shuang should have let him die.
Li Shuang, furious, chastised him with a whip, delivering three lashes: the first for his reckless pursuit of glory, which endangered himself and complicated their father's situation; the second for his unworthiness in rank, his constant complaints, and his disrespectful behavior towards soldiers, which shamed the Li family; and the third for his disrespect towards her as his elder, reminding him that while she was not Li Wei's biological daughter, she was still his, and Li Ting must respect Li Wei's decisions.
Li Ting, defiant, urged her to whip him to death if she truly believed him to be disloyal and unfilial. Li Shuang then inflicted a fourth lash upon herself, admitting that she was at fault for Li Ting's current state, having failed to guide him properly since childhood. Lu Xin, witnessing this, tended to Li Shuang's wounds, remarking on Li Ting's immaturity and asking about Jin'an.
Lu Xin described Jin'an's condition as unique and unprecedented in medical texts, requiring thorough study but prioritizing his physical recovery. She then expressed her astonishment at the series of bizarre events—soldiers with sealed acupoints, a reanimated female corpse, and Jin'an's transformations—joking whether Li Shuang was running the Changfeng Army or the legendary Wuling Mountain. Li Shuang, unfamiliar with Wuling Mountain, asked for details.
Lu Xin explained it as a sacred place for medical practitioners, known for miraculous healing, but also noted its long-standing isolation from the world. Li Shuang mused that finding Wuling Mountain might clarify everything. Lu Xin, confident in her abilities, reassured her that Jin'an's condition was curable, and once he remembered his past, the truth would be revealed. Accepting this, Li Shuang thanked Lu Xin and offered an escort back.
Lu Xin, however, preferred to assist Ji Ran at the camp, mentioning their dwindling supply of hemostatic herbs. Li Shuang then gave Lu Xin some premium medicine for Li Ting and instructed her to keep a close eye on Jin'an until she returned in a couple of days.
