Song of the Moon Episode 16 Recap
> Song of the Moon Recap
Luo Ge announced his intention to set up a magic circle under Lusitai to refine blood amulets using Liu Shao's body, instructing his disciples to guard the formation and keep everyone away for three days. Liu Shao, hearing this, questioned why such a significant task fell upon her, a young woman.
She acknowledged possessing the Power of the Sun, crucial for restoring the Four Seasons Monument, but expressed reluctance to risk her life, clinging to the hope that Luo Ge was still the affectionate Lu Li, who would not sacrifice her. Confronting Luo Ge, Liu Shao accused him of betraying her, despite his earlier promise to protect her. Luo Ge asserted that Lu Li was the one who made that promise, adding that Lu Li did not exist.
Heartbroken, Liu Shao declared that if Lu Li was truly gone, she would follow him to the afterlife, yearning to see his moon-shaped heart again. Luo Ge was momentarily stunned by her words, turning to leave without looking back, but felt a pang of pain in his heart shortly after departing. As Liu Shao grieved, the Four Seasons Monument began its restoration, a sign that the talisman pearls were effective.
Luo Ge departed for Xiyin Mountain, and Liu Shao realized that the person who shared Lu Li's face was devoid of the emotions that characterized the man she loved, confirming Lu Li's absence. Later that night, a dark-clad figure attempted to harm Liu Shao but was apprehended. Liu Shao discovered that this assailant was Luo Ge's transformation, and the true demon spy was Xie Lingqi.
The surroundings then shifted to Litian Temple, where Luo Ge publicly exposed Xie Lingqi's collusion with demons. Luo Ge explained that the damage to the Ziji Shield and the Bone-Corroding Harp's demon music striking the Four Seasons Monument's cracks, along with the demon Ao Hen knowing the Ziji Shield's weak points, confirmed the presence of an internal spy. He revealed he had deliberately spread news of using Liu Shao's blood for the talisman pearls to lure Xie Lingqi out.
Xie Lingqi, after briefly attempting to justify harming Liu Shao to protect Luo Ge from her influence, admitted his resentment toward Liu Shao but vehemently denied colluding with demons, attributing the demonic aura clinging to him to his long history of battling them. Shang Yurong questioned Xie Lingqi's allegiance, given his millennia of service as a monument guardian. Luo Ge countered, highlighting the deep demonic aura as evidence of years of illicit ties.
Xie Lingqi bitterly lamented being passed over for the Master of the Palace Wuxie position in favor of Shang Yurong, despite his extensive service and countless battles for the Three Realms, even pointing to a fresh scar sustained while protecting Luo Ge during his retreat. Luo Ge concluded that Xie Lingqi's deep-seated resentment had been exploited, leading to the infusion of demon aura into his heart.
Declaring Xie Lingqi a prisoner of the Immortal Palace, Luo Ge ordered him cast into the Bone Melting Pool for eternity. Upon awakening, Liu Shao learned from Shang Yurong that she had merely been bait in Luo Ge's elaborate scheme. Shang Yurong attempted to comfort her with energy cultivation pills, explaining that Luo Ge was even more ruthless towards himself, having sealed his five senses and detached half of his heart for his mortal tribulation.
He implied that Lu Li's tragic fate was merely a necessary trial for Luo Ge to ascend to godhood, and the suffering of others in this process was insignificant. Soon after, Luo Ge returned and asked Liu Shao for two more talisman pearls. Liu Shao vehemently refused, questioning why he, who claimed to pity all beings, wouldn't sacrifice his own immortal bone for the Four Seasons Monument, yet demanded a mortal like her sacrifice her body, heart, and life.
Acknowledging her words, Luo Ge withdrew the formation, stating that the four existing talisman pearls were sufficient to stabilize the Four Seasons Monument for a time. The Immortal Master confronted Luo Ge, reminding him that the monument suppressed half of the Moonlight God's heart, which was corrupted by malevolent aura that had developed its own consciousness and controlled the Moonlight God.
He warned that if this evil entity escaped, it would devastate the Three Realms, urging Luo Ge to remember his mission. Luo Ge, however, insisted that becoming a god quickly was the best way to eliminate the hidden danger, but admitted that further exploiting Liu Shao would harm his Dao heart and hinder his path to godhood.
The Immortal Master, still concerned, warned Luo Ge about Liu Shao potentially aiding demons, noting her silence regarding the origin of the demon string. The Immortal Master then met with Bai Feng, questioning her presence in the Immortal Palace and her past as Lu Li's senior sister, noting her resentment towards Liu Shao because she had been stripped of her direct disciple status due to Liu Shao.
He gave Bai Feng a Golden Pill to enhance her cultivation and ordered her to Xiyin Mountain to monitor Luo Ge, ensuring Liu Shao could not reawaken Luo Ge's mortal affections. Bai Feng accepted the task. While Liu Shao was lamenting Lu Li's absence to Wansui, Luo Ge appeared. He listened as she recounted their shared past, almost reaching out to her before stopping himself.
Luo Ge offered Liu Shao an ice string zither as compensation for the Bone-Corroding Harp and suggested she learn the "Great Tone and Six Senses Symphony" to calm her mind. Liu Shao, understanding his intent to make her forget Lu Li, defiantly stated she would forget him but firmly remember everything he had forgotten. As they played the zither, an observer commented on their seeming harmony, and the music reminded Liu Shao of the Brahma tree blossoming.
Through this, Luo Ge used the zither playing to deduce that the demon string on the Bone-Corroding Harp originated from the Demon King's spiritual vein. Upon fully awakening, Liu Shao realized she had inadvertently "betrayed" He Na. Luo Ge then confronted the Demon King in White at the Aquatic Demon palace, announcing that he had sealed the palace, preventing anyone from leaving.
Liu Shao arrived and shielded He Na, insisting that He Na had given her the string to save her and Lu Li, not with malicious intent. Luo Ge, acknowledging Liu Shao's plea, gave He Na one day to uncover the truth, then sat by the Brahma tree.
After Luo Ge departed, Liu Shao recounted the recent events to He Na, expressing her confusion as to how the supposedly heartless Luo Ge could have embodied the affectionate Lu Li during his tribulation. He Na cautioned her against relentless persistence, but Liu Shao remained steadfast in her devotion to Lu Li.
Meanwhile, the Demon King in White (He Na) protected his younger brother, Fu, by not revealing the full truth about the demon string to Luo Ge, and then confronted Fu privately about orchestrating the tampering of the Bone-Corroding Harp. Fu confessed to calculating every step since sacrificing his spiritual vein at Lusitai, even seeing the deaths, including that of the great demon Ao Hen, as beneficial for unifying the demon world.
He justified his actions by asserting that lifting the Aquatic Demons' curse and achieving freedom was worth any price, even if it meant chaos in the Three Realms and the sacrifice of others' lives, including his own and his brother's. He Na, distraught by Fu's cold pragmatism, cast a barrier to imprison him, intending to bear the consequences alone.
Recalling Lu Li's low alcohol tolerance, Liu Shao obtained "Rouge Drunk" wine and compelled Luo Ge to drink it, hoping to see a glimpse of Lu Li's emotions. Luo Ge consumed the entire bottle, remaining cold and unaffected. Disheartened and refusing to accept Lu Li's death, Liu Shao drank herself into a stupor under the Brahma tree. The tree sensed her despair, scattering petals around her. Liu Shao observed Luo Ge controlling the tree's emotions, which only deepened her sorrow. She continued to drink, tearfully reminiscing about her sweet memories with Lu Li, while Luo Ge struggled to maintain his composure and remain unaffected by her heartfelt words.