Song of the Moon Episode 3 Recap
> Song of the Moon Recap
Liu Shao boldly challenged Xi, who responded with utter disdain, telling Liu Shao she would wait for her to beg for forgiveness. From a corner, Lu Li emerged, questioning Liu Shao's impulsive decision to challenge Xi. He suggested she should have instead presented evidence to Senior Bai Feng, emphasizing that Xi was known to be the strongest among the female disciples and would be difficult to defeat.
Lu Li expressed concern, asking Liu Shao to share her plans in the future. Liu Shao briefly considered his words and conceded that Lu Li might be right. Meanwhile, Marquis Wuyang sought guidance from an Immortal Master to overcome a bottleneck in his cultivation, which required the power of the King Herb.
The King Herb, born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon, was believed to strengthen one's body, prolong life, and enhance vitality, promising to resolve his current predicament. Immortal Master acknowledged Marquis Wuyang's unwavering dedication, recalling how he willingly risked his lifespan by forcibly cultivating forbidden magic for the sake of the Three Realms and its people.
However, Immortal Master also warned of severe hidden dangers and the lack of a successor for the Marquis Wuyang's Mansion. Marquis Wuyang reassured him that a successor would be chosen before his demise, reiterating his sole wish to use the King Herb's power to maintain peace in the human world for his remaining years.
Immortal Master revealed that only a destined individual, one who could pass the spirit fire test, would be able to retrieve the King Herb from the Moon Washing Pond. Marquis Wuyang, despite the blessing, voiced his skepticism, noting that no one had succeeded in passing the spirit fire test for thousands of years. Despite the uncertainty, Marquis Wuyang placed his hopes on the new batch of disciples.
He announced a grand competition, emphasizing that the Mansion recruited both male and female disciples, recognizing no inherent weakness between Yin and Yang. All disciples would compete simultaneously in separate male and female arenas, strictly forbidden from using any magic or spells, relying solely on their chosen weapons. Marquis Wuyang observed that among the new recruits, Xi, Lu Li, and Liu Shao stood out as particularly well-trained.
Noticing Lu Li's easy victory and apparent untapped potential, Marquis Wuyang proposed a special match between Lu Li and Senior Du Mingchong, promising to grant the ultimate winner any one wish. As Lu Li prepared for his match, he mentally strategized, realizing that Liu Shao, despite her initial success, would inevitably face Xi. He concluded that his victory against Du Mingchong was crucial to secure Liu Shao's place in the mansion.
On the other arena, Xi brutally dominated Liu Shao with her Silver Snake Whip, scoffing at Liu Shao, calling her an "eye candy" lacking both capability and cultivation. Xue, witnessing Liu Shao's plight, rushed forward, pleading with Miss Xi to spare Liu Shao, taking all the blame upon herself. Xi, however, remained remorseless, cruelly demeaning Xue as the "daughter of a lowly cook" and demanding Xue break her own arms if she wished for Liu Shao to be spared.
Liu Shao, witnessing Xue's humiliation and desperation, was consumed by a profound rage. In that moment, she found clarity, understanding the true intent of the Lightning Slash: to wield a sharp blade to "clear all injustices." Before anyone could react, Liu Shao unleashed the Lightning Slash, swiftly striking Xi and crippling her arm. Bai Feng, witnessing the unexpected mastery of the Lightning Slash, expressed surprise but also a hint of understanding in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Lu Li had skillfully dispatched Du Mingchong, who tumbled off the Tai-Chi Platform, effectively ending the match. Du Mingchong protested, claiming the victory didn't count, but Marquis Wuyang intervened, reminding him to accept defeat. Lu Li, still humble, heard the announcement of Liu Shao's victory with surprise. When Marquis Wuyang asked for his wish, Lu Li quickly changed his mind, requesting the promotion of Wang Jian, whom he considered a brother.
Not to be outdone, Liu Shao then stepped forward and asked Marquis Wuyang to give Xue a chance, highlighting Xue's surpassing abilities compared to many other disciples. Marquis Wuyang, pleased with the day's events, granted both wishes. He then informed Liu Shao and Lu Li, as the top performers, that their next challenge would be to pass the spirit fire test, a concept Lu Li seemed entirely unfamiliar with. Later that evening, the four celebrated their promotions.
Xue expressed gratitude to Lu Li for his recommendation and to Liu Shao for helping her realize her own value. Liu Shao then reminded them that she and Lu Li still had to undergo the spirit fire test. Elsewhere, Bai Feng spoke with Lu Li, revealing that their Master had sent her to Marquis Wuyang's Mansion three years prior to help Lu Li retrieve the legendary Baoyue Sword and uncover the mystery of his origins.
Bai Feng led Lu Li to the Baoyue Platform, showing him the ancient sword, said to have the power to lead the human world to strength. Lu Li questioned the connection of a ten-thousand-year-old legend to his own background and why he specifically had to retrieve it.
Bai Feng explained that Marquis Wuyang earnestly hoped someone could wield its immense power, but warned him that only Marquis Wuyang, the true lord of the human world, could open the Protection Spell that guarded it, suggesting a long road ahead. She assured Lu Li she would help him. Afterward, Bai Feng cautioned Lu Li about the mysterious and strange nature of the Forest of Spirit Fire, as they prepared for the upcoming test.
The following day, a disciple reported that Xi, attempting to return home, had been tragically murdered by Ao Hen, who had been lurking around Marquis Wuyang's Mansion. Liu Shao, though acknowledging Xi's previous transgressions, lamented that she didn't deserve such a fate and wondered who could control Ao Hen's chaos. Fearing Ao Hen, Liu Shao's hands trembled, but Lu Li reassured her, taking her hand and promising to protect her.
As they entered the Forest of Spirit Fire, Marquis Wuyang watched, hoping they would succeed where countless others had failed. Inside, Liu Shao mistook mere shadows for the spirit fire, prompting Lu Li to correct her, explaining the true spirit fire wouldn't be so easily visible. He recounted how for millennia, the Marquis Wuyang Mansion had sent its two most promising disciples to retrieve the spirit fire, but none had succeeded.
He revealed that the spirit fire was a remnant flame from the Sun Supreme God, imbued with the power of the sun and known to devour memories. This explained why even those who had encountered it could never remember, making its retrieval nearly impossible.
True to the spirit fire's nature, Liu Shao soon found herself trapped in an illusion, reliving a vivid ten-year-old memory: a mysterious immortal offering her a choice – he would give her three days of happiness, and she would give him her future destiny. She affirmed her choice and her lack of regret as ten years had passed and her fate had changed.
Lu Li managed to rouse her from the trance, explaining his immunity to the illusions; he had no memories from before his master adopted him, leaving the spirit fire with nothing to devour from his past. Liu Shao noticed a three-legged golden crow, remarking on its beautiful, sun-like feathers. Lu Li recalled the legend of the Sun Supreme God's true form being a three-legged golden crow, realizing the bird was indeed the spirit fire itself.
They pursued the golden crow deeper into the dense forest. Liu Shao, informed by Lu Li that the Sun Supreme God was a female deity who might prefer a female approach, decided to be the one to approach the golden crow. She coaxed it with promises of a lavish home. The golden crow, seemingly understanding her, transformed into a ball of fiery spirit fire. Lu Li quickly grabbed it, feigning nonchalance, claiming he could block its heat with his vitality.
Liu Shao, though initially believing him, soon noticed his strained movements. She tried to take the spirit fire to relieve his burden, but the moment their hands touched, the spirit fire erupted in an explosion. Marquis Wuyang swiftly arrived to retrieve the rogue spirit fire. Both Liu Shao and Lu Li suffered burns, but Lu Li's injuries were far more severe, with his meridians scorched. Liu Shao, blaming herself, explained how their touch triggered the explosion.
Marquis Wuyang examined Liu Shao's hand, discovering her spiritual power was strangely antagonistic to Lu Li's, explaining the unexpected reaction. He grimly noted the severity of Lu Li's injuries, stating that healing him would consume eighty percent of his own vitality. He worried that if news of his weakened state spread amid the constant demon incursions, the human world would face certain doom.
When Liu Shao anxiously asked about Lu Li's fate, Marquis Wuyang revealed that if Liu Shao, who successfully retrieved the spirit fire, could also find the King Herb, his own recovery would be swift. Without hesitation, Liu Shao volunteered to find the King Herb, dismissing Marquis Wuyang's questions about the dangers or methods. She only asked him not to inform Lu Li, fearing it would add to his burdens.
Privately, Liu Shao vowed to protect Lu Li, just as he had protected her, even if it meant risking her own life to retrieve the King Herb. Marquis Wuyang instructed Liu Shao to use the upcoming demon hunting trial period, during which disciples could move freely, to embark on her quest. She was to find the Moon Washing Pond and the King Herb within it. Liu Shao, though apprehensive being alone, reassured herself that the seniors had cleared the area.
She recalled Marquis Wuyang's instructions: to find the entrance by reciting an ancient chant, specifically looking for a lantern marked with the character "Wu," which would indicate a safe zone where demons dared not tread. As she recited the ancient chant, a path to the Moon Washing Pond opened, revealing a beautiful, tranquil pool. Marquis Wuyang watched from afar, deeply hoping for her success, recognizing that both his life and the future of the human world rested on her shoulders.
As Liu Shao admired the beauty of the Moon Washing Pond, a mysterious figure, the Demon King in White, He Na, began playing a Melody Flute. To his surprise, Liu Shao remained completely unaffected by his music, which was meant to disrupt and bewitch. Liu Shao then discovered a small white fish, recognizing it as a demon, yet compassionately decided to take it back to heal its injuries, unaware that it was merely a substitute form of He Na himself.
Back in his realm, He Na consulted with Sir Moss, an elder of the Aquatic Demons renowned for his vast knowledge, asking who could possibly be immune to the Melody Flute. Sir Moss explained that aside from two long-vanished Supreme Gods, only Immortal Ze Shui, who shared a deep enmity with their Aquatic Demon tribe, possessed such immunity. He Na, connecting the dots, concluded that the mortal woman unafraid of his flute must be Immortal Ze Shui's heir. With his substitute now with Liu Shao, He Na expressed his hope that this encounter would finally provide the answers he sought.
