Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 14 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Hermit Baize entertained the assembled group with his tales of fox spirits and demons. He particularly enjoyed one about a female demon seducing a scholar, only to discover the scholar was also a demon. Their conflict was ultimately resolved by a demon-slayer. As the story unfolded, the Imperial Guards reacted differently: Huo You was skeptical, Chen He expressed a wistful pity for the lady, and Wei Qi, though frightened, remained curious, while Ding Heng alone remained impassive.
Su Wuming, recalling his childhood love for such stories, eagerly asked the hermit which tale he would spin. Zi, Hermit Baize's wife, seized the opportunity to promote her wares, including oddly shaped cloth dolls and "Bai Ze Scrolls," which she claimed were ancient Western Zhou originals. She assured them the scrolls, priced at 90 cash, could ward off evil, a stark contrast to her 100-cash dolls, which were harder to sell.
Su Wuming, intrigued by the "Western Zhou original" claim, borrowed a scroll for closer examination, promising to buy it for a high price if it proved genuine. Meanwhile, Lu Lingfeng assessed the temple's vacant rooms for lodging. Wei Qi, unnerved by the stories, decided to retire to his allocated room in the west wing, a shared space for four. Li Nai'er, expressing no interest in demon tales, also withdrew.
Lu Lingfeng informed Ding Heng that the east wing was divided into two rooms: one for Li Nai'er and the other to be shared by himself and Su Wuming. He also arranged for their guide, Ling Ji, to lodge in the main hall. As the remaining group continued listening, a loud roar echoed through the temple. They rushed outside to investigate, but it was nothing more than a wild beast.
Hermit Baize reassured everyone that such sounds were common in the mountains, but a true anomaly would be the appearance of the scholar and lady from his story. No sooner had he spoken than a scholar, Shi, and his wife, Jiao, arrived, requesting lodging. The group was startled, but after confirming they were human, their apprehension eased. Jiao immediately recognized the Bai Ze statue in the hall, mentioning a similar one at home, and reverently bowed with her husband.
Chen He, captivated by Jiao's beauty, watched her with ill intent. After everyone settled, Hermit Baize resumed his tale, detailing the fierce struggle between the demon-slayer and the two cunning demons. The demons ultimately combined their power to kill the slayer, breaking his spine, and then fled hand in hand. Su Wuming offered his insight, identifying the creatures as "weight-bearing ghosts."
He explained that for such ghosts to return to the human world, they needed a substitute, who, if they died sitting, could find a new successor after three millennia. However, by breaking the slayer's spine, the demons ensured he died lying down, preventing him from ever reincarnating and thus allowing the ghosts to remain in the human realm forever. Hermit Baize commended Su Wuming's extensive knowledge. Su Wuming, however, remained skeptical about the actual existence of Bai Ze.
Hermit Baize recounted the history, beginning with the Yellow Emperor bringing a hundred Bai Zes from the Eastern Sea to his capital and distributing them. During the Western Zhou, King Mu used four Bai Zes to patrol Mount Zhongnan to purge it of demons, leaving them there to permanently suppress evil in Guanzhong. He concluded that these "divine beasts" were simply ancient, now-extinct animals, and their reappearance would not be extraordinary.
He defiantly offered to let them smash his temple if they failed to see a Bai Ze. Ding Heng and Huo You then decided to leave. Away from the main hall, Li Nai'er confronted Lu Lingfeng, accusing him of protecting Huo You and demanding justice for Huo Jing's death. Lu Lingfeng urged her to be patient, promising a thorough investigation upon their return to the capital, as the incident occurred within his jurisdiction.
Simultaneously, Ding Heng and Huo You discussed Huo Jing's death, with Ding Heng commending Huo You for eliminating one of the Princess's women. This conversation, overheard by Li Nai'er, enraged her, and she attacked Huo You. Ding Heng intervened, escalating the fight by attempting to kill Li Nai'er.
Lu Lingfeng swiftly stepped in, halting their combat and reminding them of their imperial mission, unaware that Ding Heng was operating under secret orders to assassinate Su Wuming, and that both Li Nai'er and Lu Lingfeng were also targets. Ding Heng disparaged women in military roles, solidifying his animosity towards Li Nai'er.
They conspired to kill Li Nai'er if she attacked again and spoke of Lu Lingfeng's "disloyalty" to the Emperor, suggesting his mother's identity as the Princess put him at odds with the throne. While the group was distracted, Wei Qi, eager to earn merit and believing in the hermit’s stories, ventured alone into the forest to search for Bai Ze, calling out to the deity and promising a golden statue in return for its appearance.
He encountered something in the woods. Back at the temple, Su Wuming purchased the Bai Ze Scroll for 90 cash, finally able to examine it in detail. Meanwhile, Chen He, emboldened by drink, openly flirted with Jiao, plying her with wine while Scholar Shi feigned drunkenness. Jiao, in turn, subtly encouraged Chen He, complaining about her husband's lack of hygiene. Chen He eventually led Jiao into a private room.
Later, Su Wuming, now in his room with Lu Lingfeng, reflected on the unsettling events and learned about the fight between Li Nai'er and Huo You, which he hadn't heard from the main hall. He also questioned Chen He's well-being. During the night, Lu Lingfeng intercepted Scholar Shi and Jiao as they attempted to leave, revealing his discovery of their elaborate ruse.
They were a pair of thieves who had used Jiao’s beauty to drug Chen He and steal his purse. Though Chen He's money was recovered, he was nowhere to be found, leaving only an empty bed. The next morning, the group discovered their guide, Ling Ji, dead by hanging in his room. Su Wuming, after a careful examination, confirmed it was a suicide, finding no external injuries.
Li Nai'er, however, deeply saddened, felt that his death was a tragic consequence of their "absurd expedition" and insisted on giving him a proper burial. With Lu Lingfeng's help, they laid Ling Ji to rest and erected a wooden marker for his tomb. Soon after, a scream from Ding Heng echoed through the forest. Rushing to the sound, they found a gruesome sight: the headless body of Wei Qi.
