Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 25 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
With his injured leg, Lang Yehu frantically stumbled through the forest, only to run into his fellow bandits, Liulang and Qilang. Qilang immediately questioned Lang Yehu’s delay, while Lang Yehu angrily accused them of failing to help him earlier. As they argued over who was to blame for the situation, Lang Yehu then accused them of trying to secretly keep the loot for themselves, threatening to kick them.
Liulang and Qilang quickly apologized and tried to explain that carrying the heavy chest was exhausting. Lang Yehu, the "Second Master," became even more enraged when they complained about the weight of the chest and dared him to try carrying it. With their plan to get money from the exchange shop thwarted, Qilang suggested they simply kill the "old man" in the chest. Liulang agreed, proposing they take whatever loot was inside, split it three ways, and flee.
Lang Yehu scoffed at the idea of sharing equally with his subordinates, declaring that he deserved more. The tension escalated, and Lang Yehu was stabbed and killed by Liulang and Qilang. Qilang then turned on Liulang, deciding that keeping all the treasure was better than sharing it two ways. He swiftly plunged a dagger into Liulang, killing him as well.
Eager to claim his prize, Qilang frantically smashed open the chest, only for a leopard to spring out and fatally attack him. Meanwhile, Lu Lingfeng had no need to pursue the bandits, as he had already anticipated their greed. He revealed that he had orchestrated a "trick," secretly replacing the real Xuanhuo Troupe leader, Yuan Li, with a leopard in the chest. Yuan Li, now safe, confirmed his identity as the Xuanhuo Troupe leader and recounted his ordeal.
He explained that half a month prior, a gang of bandits had hijacked his troupe. To save his life, he cleverly lied about having a large sum of money stored in an exchange shop that only he could personally withdraw. This deception kept him alive, though he was imprisoned in the chest. The other dancers tearfully complained about the bandits' cruelty and threats.
Only Sang'er remained silent, eventually speaking up to suggest that using a leopard to punish the murderers and then releasing it back into the wild was a fitting outcome, promoting harmony between humans and nature. Lu Lingfeng explained that he had rescued Yuan Li from the chest and replaced him with the leopard, assuring everyone that he wouldn't have acted without certainty of the plan's effectiveness.
Ruan Daxiong, eager to celebrate, instructed his servant Alang to prepare a new feast with fine wine and special dishes. He also requested the Xuanhuo Troupe to perform their unique skills. Yuan Li, after a moment of hesitation, agreed. As music filled the air, dancers gracefully entered, and Yuan Li stood at the center, conjuring a mesmerizing seven-colored lotus from his palms, dazzling everyone. However, after consuming the celebratory wine, everyone began to feel disoriented and experienced vivid hallucinations.
Yuan Li then shockingly spewed real flames, while two dancers flew through the air, intensifying the fire. Even Lu Lingfeng struggled to resist the illusion. Pei Xijun, realizing the danger, urgently warned Sang'er not to assist in the malevolent act. Just then, Fei Chicken burst in, extinguishing the flames and exposing Yuan Li's true identity: he was none other than Black Fire, the notorious criminal Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming were hunting.
Upon being exposed, Black Fire attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by Lu Lingfeng. Ruan Daxiong, Gao Da, and Wang Youbo quickly surrounded the other dancers, ordering them to surrender. Realizing they had been coerced by Black Fire for years, the dancers dropped their weapons and confessed. Fei Chicken explained that Su Wuming had already received intelligence that Black Fire had returned to Chang'an, specifically targeting Ruan's Restaurant.
Therefore, Su Wuming had feigned drunkenness to catch Black Fire off guard. Fei Chicken further revealed that he and Black Fire were old acquaintances. Twenty years ago, he saved Black Fire from assassins in the Ghost Market. To his dismay, Black Fire repaid him by murdering four of the Medicine King's disciples for a magical elixir. Fei Chicken, still grieving for the children who called him "Martial Uncle," vowed to settle all old and new scores.
However, Chu Yingtao intervened, insisting that Black Fire be handed over to the authorities for proper justice. Su Wuming then questioned why Black Fire, after twenty years of hiding, had resurfaced to commit crimes. Black Fire claimed he was "bound by the Blood Drop," hinting that he had received a Blood Drop Order. At this moment, Xue Huan and his men arrived, taking Black Fire and Gou Mengchang into custody.
Sang'er then revealed her story, explaining that she had been held captive for years and, desperate for freedom, intentionally leaked Black Fire's alias after overhearing him and Xiaopa. She understood that exposing a notorious criminal like Black Fire would alert the authorities and lead to her rescue, and also avenge the other kidnapped girls who had been murdered for disobedience.
Recognizing her contribution to solving the case, Su Wuming promised to help her officially remove her slave status, for which Sang'er expressed profound gratitude. Later, everyone gathered, listening to Fei Chicken proudly recount how he had outsmarted Gou Mengchang by using a special "sushan" dessert containing a sleep-inducing agent to incapacitate the bandits, and then magically calmed and directed the leopard into the chest. His ingenuity impressed everyone. During the celebratory banquet, Lu Lingfeng shared his evolving understanding of poetry.
He admitted that he once believed good poetry relied solely on elegant words. However, his travels across the land taught him that true poetic essence comes from embracing the vastness of heaven and earth and the warmth of human life. Everyone agreed, and Wang Youbo suggested renaming the restaurant "Hero Restaurant" to reflect such noble sentiments. Gao Da eagerly offered to personally inscribe the new plaque.
The next morning, Cold Ji was nowhere to be found at their agreed meeting time. Lu Lingfeng and his companions rushed to his room, finding it empty except for a hidden tunnel leading outside the city. Cold Ji and Jiaonu were already riding away, having decided to spend the rest of their lives wandering the world as a free couple. Cold Ji confided in Jiaonu that his greatest freedom was being with her.
He knew he was putting Gao Da and Wang Youbo in a difficult position by leaving them behind, but promised to thank them later. He also recognized the challenge he created for Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming, who would have to cleverly navigate the legal implications of their escape. Meanwhile, Gao Da and Wang Youbo, awaiting their arrest, declared their readiness to return to Yongzhou Prefecture Office with Lu Lingfeng.
They stated their intention to serve their sentence and then embark on their planned journey beyond the Great Wall, believing the experience would enrich their poetry. Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming exchanged knowing glances. Playing along, Su Wuming pretended to be drunk, claiming he couldn't release them. Lu Lingfeng then subtly suggested they escape through the tunnel, allowing them to uphold their loyalty to Cold Ji while providing a plausible explanation for the authorities.
Soon after, Ruan Daxiong proudly unveiled the new "Hero Restaurant" plaque, personally inscribed by Gao Da. Despite Manager Hou's previous attempt to hire an assassin to kill him, Ruan Daxiong magnanimously reappointed him to manage the establishment. Su Wuming, learning that Ruan Daxiong had arranged the feast specifically to reunite Cold Ji and Jiaonu, remarked that Ruan Daxiong truly deserved the name "Hero." Gao Da and Wang Youbo also admired Ruan Daxiong's character.
When he brought them provisions and travel expenses for their journey, they invited him to join them beyond the Great Wall to explore the world together. Overjoyed, Ruan Daxiong readily accepted, and the three, now united as "Tang poets," rode off towards the city gates as the morning sun rose.
