Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 14 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Recap
Lu Lingfeng, disguised as a general, was already settled at the Gantang Post, where he engaged in conversation with the corvee, Liu Shiba. When asked about a strange creature, Liu Shiba described it as having a boar-like head but being thin with long legs, able to stand and climb trees, leading Lu Lingfeng to conclude it was a wild man. Lu Lingfeng, in a jest, accused Liu Shiba of eating human flesh, to which Liu Shiba nervously denied.
Lu Lingfeng then requested to see the trap for this "monster" the next morning. Soon after, knocking was heard at the door, startling Liu Shiba. Lu Lingfeng urged him to open it, suggesting it was just a passer-by caught in the heavy rain and offering to pay for their stay. The newcomer introduced himself as Ma Butong from Lingyun Temple in Nanzhou, a Taoist priest seeking shelter.
He claimed to be carrying Zhang Xuan's priceless "Stone Bridge" painting for the princess in Chang'an and couldn't risk it getting wet. Liu Shiba warned him the post was haunted, but Ma Butong, asserting his expertise in subduing demons and ghosts, said he feared nothing and even offered to cleanse the inn for free. Reluctantly, Liu Shiba let him in but cautioned him about a general with a peculiar temper already staying there.
Inside, Ma Butong (Su Wuming in disguise) greeted Lu Lingfeng, who feigned surprise at encountering a Taoist priest. The two then launched into a staged argument, with Su Wuming implying Lu Lingfeng was gluttonous, and Lu Lingfeng threatening violence to claim the right main room. Su Wuming, citing his mission for the princess, tried to assert his priority, but Lu Lingfeng countered with his duty to the Emperor.
Su Wuming boasted that the princess promised him a high official position, prompting Lu Lingfeng to declare that the court would be doomed if such men became officials. Lu Lingfeng then dramatically called for Liu Shiba, threatening to spill Ma Butong's blood to "cleanse" the inn, terrifying Liu Shiba.
Su Wuming conceded, agreeing to take the left main room, but Lu Lingfeng further humiliated him by ordering Liu Shiba to put the Taoist in a storeroom and expel him once the rain ceased. Afterward, Su Wuming complained to Liu Shiba about Lu Lingfeng’s behavior and asked for his name, promising to report him to the princess, to which Liu Shiba readily agreed, hoping to curry favor.
Liu Shiba then offered Su Wuming a spacious wing-room and some good wine, delighting Su Wuming. Later that evening, Lu Lingfeng requested Liu Shiba to prepare hot water for a foot wash before dismissing him and asking him to extinguish the lamp. Meanwhile, Su Wuming also requested wine from Liu Shiba, who refused, citing his duty to the general. Liu Shiba privately wished that Lu Lingfeng would encounter a ghost that night.
As planned, ecstasy incense was released into both rooms. Once Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming appeared unconscious, a monstrous man in red robes, Liu Shijiu, dragged them into a hidden chamber. There, his brothers, Liu Shiba and Liu Shiqi, discussed their plan, mentioning that after an incident involving their "second brother," they usually only allowed one guest at a time. However, Su Wuming's painting was too valuable, promising them a life free from their current existence once sold in Chang'an.
Liu Shiqi checked Lu Lingfeng's money bag, only to find it filled with rocks. Furious, Liu Shiba then checked Su Wuming’s bag, finding it also contained only rocks. Lu Lingfeng, who had only been pretending to be unconscious, swiftly subdued the monstrous Liu Shijiu. As Liu Shiba snatched the fake painting from Su Wuming and fled, Lu Lingfeng pursued him into the courtyard, where Liu Shiba summoned a swarm of serpents.
Lu Lingfeng, seeing his escape, used a pre-prepared powder against the snakes before returning to check on Su Wuming. Su Wuming, also feigning unconsciousness despite having taken Fei Jishi's antidote, explained that as a "weak scholar," he would only have been a distraction and chose to avoid causing trouble. Lu Lingfeng was annoyed that Liu Shiba had escaped, but Su Wuming pointed out they still had one captive to interrogate.
Su Wuming then formally introduced himself to the captured man as Su Wuming, Military Commander of Nanzhou, demanding his name. The escaped Liu Shiba discovered the painting he stole was fake, leaving him enraged. Xue Huan, who had been secretly tailing Liu Shiba, reported this development to Su Wuming. Preparing for the next phase, Su Wuming led Lu Lingfeng out to meet Sheriff Su, who had arrived with his men.
Su Wuming openly accused Sheriff Su of colluding with the Liu brothers in a scheme of murder and extortion. He revealed his investigation in Gantang County uncovered that the Liu brothers' father, formerly a headman under Sheriff Su, had died mysteriously at the Gantang Post three years prior.
Sheriff Su, attempting to maintain control, questioned Su Wuming’s identity as the Military Commander of Nanzhou, claiming it was fabricated, and ordered his men to arrest and execute Su Wuming, Lu Lingfeng, and Xue Huan on the spot. A skirmish ensued, but it was quickly interrupted by the timely arrival of Magistrate Wang of Gantang County, who ordered Sheriff Su's arrest.
Magistrate Wang expressed gratitude to Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng for exposing Sheriff Su’s true colors and requested Su Wuming to preside over the case. During the interrogation, Liu Shiba volunteered to recount his family’s tragic history. Twenty-five years ago, his mother gave birth to three sons. The youngest, Liu Shijiu, was born unusually and couldn't speak or walk upright even at five years old, spending his days crawling.
Their father, convinced by rumors that Liu Shijiu was a monster, abandoned him. Liu Shiqi, the eldest brother, interrupted, cruelly remarking that it would have been better if Liu Shiba had also been abandoned. Su Wuming then detailed Liu Shiqi's childhood, marked by dishonesty and petty theft. At thirteen, Liu Shiqi was expelled from Gantang County after selling several young girls, a crime he boasted about as a display of his "talent."
Liu Shiba confirmed he knew about Liu Shiqi's child trafficking and regretted not reporting him, leading to a heated exchange where Liu Shiba accused Liu Shiqi of stealing the family savings meant for his education. Liu Shiqi retorted by disrespecting their father as a "cowardly" man who deserved to die for his inability to provide wealth. Magistrate Wang then produced a collection of hidden treasures, revealing them as Liu Shiqi’s personal loot, which he had not shared with Sheriff Su.
Su Wuming further pressed, bringing up the old corvee of Gantang Post, whose body was never found, implying he too was a victim of the serpents. Liu Shiba revealed that after arriving at the neglected Gantang Post, he initially felt disillusioned. However, interactions with various traveling dignitaries enriched his mind until strange occurrences began. He eventually discovered that Liu Shijiu, who had grown up among snakes after being abandoned, had found his way back and was following him, stealing chickens.
When the old corvee discovered Liu Shijiu and attempted to kill him, he was attacked by snakes. This was Liu Shiba’s first encounter with his monstrously strong brother, who accidentally bit off his finger in the struggle, an act Liu Shijiu immediately regretted, shedding "blood tears." Liu Shiba then informed their father, who intended to kill the "monster," but Liu Shiqi intervened, having manipulated Liu Shijiu into killing their father instead.
Liu Shiqi brazenly admitted to orchestrating his father's murder, regretting he hadn't been strong enough to kill him at thirteen. Su Wuming pointed out that Sheriff Su was responsible for handling the original Gantang Post case. Sheriff Su defended his actions, claiming he covered up the deaths as snake attacks out of pity for the brothers and to motivate his impoverished men, who were not being paid properly, to continue investigating other cases. Magistrate Wang condemned Sheriff Su’s hypocrisy.
Su Wuming further accused Liu Shiqi of his insatiable greed, noting he hoarded treasures despite Liu Shiba’s sacrifice in taking all the blame to protect him and Liu Shijiu. Liu Shiqi, however, expressed only hatred for Liu Shiba, believing his brother had hindered their illicit gains and wished his mother had only birthed him so he could have lived a rich and carefree life.
As Liu Shiqi spoke, Liu Shijiu, the captive, began to roar, shedding blood tears, and a large python dropped from the ceiling, its gaze settling on him. The three brothers were handed over to Magistrate Wang for judgment. As Su Wuming, Lu Lingfeng, and Xue Huan departed for Nanzhou, they mused on the pitiable fate of the brothers, hoping Liu Shiba, who hadn't directly killed anyone, might be spared.
Lu Lingfeng jokingly poked fun at Su Wuming’s concern about his beard not growing back for his Nanzhou posting. Upon their return to Nanzhou, Lu Lingfeng resumed his role as Minister of the Household under Prefectural Governor Xiong. He found himself restless and bored due to the constant monsoon rains. While drinking tea with his subordinates, Lu Lingfeng noticed a beggar named Dong Lang stealing.
He questioned Dong Lang and learned the beggar had found gold and jewels hidden in a wall at the Wen Temple and intended to keep them. It was revealed that the Wen Temple, located at the foot of Minor Stone Bridge Mountain, was built ten years ago by an anonymous old man who had since died without heirs. Despite initial popularity, few visited the temple now, except for two students studying for exams.
Dong Lang, who had no prior theft record, was punished for his intent. That same day, Dugu Xiashu, a student, returned to the Wen Temple after buying books. He overheard Qinghong, his wife, praying for his success in the exams. However, to his shock, he saw her through a window engaged in an affair with his classmate. Enraged, Dugu Xiashu threw his books into the room and fled into the heavy rain.
Later, a passer-by found him drenched and disoriented, reminding him to use his umbrella to protect himself and his books. Dugu Xiashu wondered if his previous sighting was a hallucination. Upon returning home, he found Qinghong in bed. She claimed she hadn't left the house all afternoon due to the rain and had been sleeping, but had a strange nightmare.
She dreamed she went to the Wen Temple to bring him clothes and pray for his success, only to be struck on the head by a pile of books thrown through a window by an "obnoxious person." The blow, she said, still hurt, leaving Dugu Xiashu deeply unsettled, as her dream vividly mirrored his own actions.
