Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 13 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Lu Lingfeng was preparing to depart for Mount Zhongnan when Lu Tong arrived, delivering an imperial order. Lu Tong declared that Pei Xijun, Chu Yingtao, Fei Jishi, and Xue Huan were to remain in the city to assist with various matters. Lu Tong explained to Pei Xijun that the journey was too arduous for her, and he'd be held accountable to Minister Pei.
He claimed his eyes hurt and needed Fei Jishi to treat him, refusing to wait until their return. He deemed the expedition unsuitable for a woman like Chu Yingtao, despite her martial prowess. He also told Xue Huan, who insisted on protecting his master, to stay and perform his duties as a captain, threatening to punish him on Lu Lingfeng's behalf. Su Wuming expressed exasperation at the situation.
Lu Tong then announced that General Ding Heng of the Right Imperial Guards, Records Officer Chen He, Military Officer Wei Qi, and Cavalry Officer Huo You were to join the expedition, ostensibly to help Yongzhou Prefecture find the auspicious beast Bai Ze, stating this was also the Emperor's will. Chief Administrator Du had no objections. As the group left the city, Pei Xijun urged Lu Lingfeng to be careful. At the city gates, the Grand Princess's carriage was waiting.
Upon seeing Lu Lingfeng, she directly questioned his understanding of why the Emperor specifically tasked him with finding Bai Ze, given that Chief Administrator Du had appointed him. Lu Lingfeng remained silent. Su Wuming tried to sidestep the question by praising the Emperor's wisdom and Chief Administrator Du's trust in Lu Lingfeng but admitted he couldn't see anything more profound.
The Grand Princess, calling Su Wuming slick, then plainly laid out the situation: if Bai Ze was found, the credit would go to Yongzhou Prefecture; if not, the blame for insufficient effort would fall squarely on Lu Lingfeng. She dismissed Chief Administrator Du's attempt to interject. The Grand Princess emphasized that "auspicious signs concern the nation's fortune," expressing concern that someone might deceive the Emperor.
To prevent this, she announced the appointment of Li Nai'er as Commander of the Princess's Guards, ordering her to join the expedition and monitor the team, especially the Imperial Guards, to prevent deceit or actions against Heaven's will. When Chief Administrator Du questioned sending a woman, the Grand Princess invoked historical female figures like Princess Pingyang and Empress Wu Zetian, asserting that women were equally capable of witnessing auspicious events.
She stressed her determination to prevent fabricated lies that would deceive the Emperor and fool the populace. To further assist and serve as a guide, she assigned Huo Jing, a local hunter from Mount Zhongnan, to accompany Li Nai'er. The enlarged team departed. Days later, they arrived at Mount Zhongnan. The local hunter Ling Ji proposed taking the familiar, longer path up the mountain.
However, Huo Jing, another local hunter, immediately pointed out Heartbreak Cliff as a shortcut that would save two hours of travel, though it was steep. Huo You mocked Ling Ji for not suggesting the shortcut earlier. Su Wuming jokingly claimed Ling Ji was trying to spare a "weak scholar" like him. Lu Lingfeng adopted Huo Jing's suggestion, appointing her as the temporary guide to lead them via the shortcut.
General Ding Heng questioned why they were following the Princess's people, implying that "accidents" could be common on such perilous paths. They abandoned their horses and began the climb. Ling Ji warned that after ascending the steep cliff, they would face a stretch of narrow, treacherous path clinging to the cliffside, with a deep abyss below. Incensed that this wasn't disclosed earlier, Huo You whipped Ling Ji.
Huo Jing immediately stepped in, angrily rebuking Huo You for bullying the local hunter and warning him against pushing them too far. Huo You, enraged, drew his sword and attacked Huo Jing. Li Nai'er quickly intercepted, blocking Huo You's attack, and a fierce duel ensued. Su Wuming tried to de-escalate, praising both combatants. Lu Lingfeng intervened, ordering them to stop, reminding them they were a unified team on an imperial mission.
He ordered Huo You to apologize to Ling Ji, but Huo You defiantly refused. Su Wuming then cleverly suggested that General Ding and the Imperial Guards, with their superior martial arts, should lead, while he (claiming to be clumsy) would follow closely behind Li Nai'er, enabling Lu Lingfeng to cover the rear. In a hushed tone, Su Wuming told Lu Lingfeng to protect the two women from the Princess's Mansion at all costs. Lu Lingfeng agreed to the new formation.
Ling Ji led them up the steep cliff, the only way to proceed. During the climb, Su Wuming's foot slipped on moss, and he nearly fell into the chasm, but Lu Lingfeng swiftly pulled him back to safety. After reaching the top, a deep beastly roar echoed through the mountains. The four Imperial Guards excitedly assumed it was Bai Ze, but Huo Jing identified it as a tiger, warning them of its ferocity.
Chen He remarked that with tigers present, Bai Ze couldn't be far. Despite General Ding Heng's offer to lead, Lu Lingfeng insisted on taking point alongside General Ding, instructing Su Wuming and Li Nai'er to follow closely behind him. The sky grew dark, and heavy clouds gathered, signaling an approaching storm. Ling Ji predicted heavy rain within minutes, making the already dangerous path even more treacherous.
Su Wuming commented on the beauty of the "Mount Zhongnan before the rain" scene, wishing Pei Xijun and Chu Yingtao were there to witness it. Lu Lingfeng decided to press on, instructing everyone to put on their rain gear and proceed with extreme caution on the slippery path.
As they navigated the narrow, single-file trail along the cliff edge, Military Officer Wei Qi subtly signaled Huo You, who then feigned needing to relieve himself and deliberately dropped to the back of the line. Shortly after, a terrified scream, accusing someone of being a "shameless scoundrel," was heard, followed by Huo Jing's desperate cries as she fell off the cliff. Li Nai'er tried in vain to save her.
Heartbroken and furious, Li Nai'er immediately drew her sword, accusing Huo You of pushing Huo Jing. Huo You vehemently denied it, claiming Huo Jing had slipped after attacking him when he approached. Li Nai'er vowed to avenge Huo Jing, engaging Huo You in a fierce battle. During their perilous duel, Li Nai'er lost her footing and nearly plunged into the abyss. Lu Lingfeng quickly grabbed her, pulling her back, then separated the two with his sword, forcefully halting their fight.
Su Wuming urged them to stop fighting, warning that the unstable ground could collapse at any moment, leading to dire consequences. Lu Lingfeng echoed this, advising them to prioritize finding a safe spot before continuing their dispute. Though Li Nai'er still demanded revenge, Lu Lingfeng's resolute warning against pointless death finally compelled her to temporarily suppress her anger. They found a nearby rock cave and built a fire for warmth and shelter from the intensifying rain.
While collecting dry branches in the surrounding woods, Military Officer Wei Qi stumbled upon a gruesome sight: a female corpse, crudely bound to a large rock, her face contorted in a horrifying expression. Terrified, he screamed about a ghost. The others rushed over. Records Officer Chen He made a flippant remark about the deceased woman's likely beauty in life. This callous comment reignited Li Nai'er's fury, further reminding her of Huo Jing's tragic fall.
She once again drew her sword, lunging at Huo You. Seeing Huo You was already injured, General Ding Heng offered to fight Li Nai'er in his place. Lu Lingfeng intervened for a third time, sternly stopping both sides and diffusing the renewed conflict, stressing the importance of their main mission. As the rain continued to worsen, Ling Ji mentioned an old temple nearby, although he didn't know its name and usually avoided it due to wild animals.
Lu Lingfeng decided they should head there for shelter. They soon arrived at the ancient temple, which Su Wuming noted seemed unusually grand and not an abandoned structure. Ling Ji confirmed it was inhabited by people who sometimes offered shelter to travelers. Impatient, Huo You pushed past Ling Ji and entered without knocking. An old woman, Zi, the temple master's wife, appeared, initially startling Huo You, who had to be ordered by Lu Lingfeng to put his sword away.
When Lu Lingfeng asked for shelter, Zi replied it depended on the temple master and refused to host those who didn't recognize their deity, explaining that everything in the temple was a divine gift. The temple master, Hermit Baize, then appeared and questioned them about the deity. When they couldn't name it, he again refused them. Su Wuming, recognizing the unique statue in the main hall (with a dragon's head, deer antlers, and wings), exclaimed it was Bai Ze.
He then eloquently recounted the history of the Bai Ze Temple, citing ancient texts. He explained that it was originally built during the Later Han Dynasty by people seeking a wise ruler during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and later rebuilt by Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty as the only surviving temple of the Four Auspicious Beasts. Hermit Baize confirmed Su Wuming's knowledge, introducing himself and his wife Zi.
He stated that since they had entered the temple, they were no longer ordinary people, and promised that if they stayed for a few days, Bai Ze would appear when the weather cleared and golden light shone through the clouds. He also pointed out the temple's unusually tall gate, built specifically to accommodate the divine beast. The Imperial Guards were overjoyed and readily believed him, eager to pray.
Hermit Baize offered them clean rooms and promised food and wine, though he initially seemed hesitant to share his wine with strangers. He then invited them to listen to his "folk tales" while Zi prepared food. Chen He and Military Officer Wei Qi eagerly accepted, expressing their love for such stories.
